Kerala is in trouble with heavy rains and floods wreaking havoc, and people stranded with nowhere to go. The rains continue unabated, and the Centre deployed more forces, Army and NDRF (National Disaster Rescue Force) for evacuation, rescue and relief.
For the first time in history, all 5 gates of the Idduki dam have been opened underlining just how serious conditions are in Kerala, according to India Today.
Currently, approximately 6 lakh litres of water flooding down the Periyar river every second. The Idukki reservoir is 2,403 feet deep. Unending rain over the catchment area has caused authorities to open the reservoir gates one by one.
Residents of the nearby Cherurhoni town have been evacuated.
Here are some of visuals of the mayhem being caused by nature’s wrath.
The Southern Naval Command has jumped into action as well, according to The Week, and all possible efforts are being made to save those stranded in God’s Own Country.
Upon request from the District Collector, one diving team with a Gemini inflatable boat has been airlifted and sent to Kalpetta in Wayanad, late on Thursday night. Three other teams with Gemini boats have already commenced the rescue operations at Panamaran, evacuating 55 stranded people till early morning today.
Here are pictures of the efforts of the authorities.
What’s more, three additional diving teams have proceeded to the affected operations. Two more diving teams for relief operations are on standby, at Aluva in Ernakulam, coordinating with the district deputy collector.
The Command Hospital, IHNS Sanjivani and the community kitchen of INS Venduruthy are on standby, should the need arise. Ferry divers, power tools, axes and relief material to the flood-hit areas are being ferried by naval helicopters.
According to NRDF officials quoted in The Week, NRDF ground forces are well-equipped with safety, relief and rescue gear as well as medicines and life-saving equipment, and modern communication gadgets, including satellite phones.
The Army and the Air Force have also been deployed.
The rescue mission in Wayanad district is being controlled by a Lieutenant Colonel. The Indian Air Force has commissioned two helicopters for search and rescue operations. Two have been deployed from Sulur Air Force base.
#SAR and #FloodRelief in progress by Navy Seaking 42C #OpMadad in Wayanad, Kerala post heavy rains and flash floods @DefenceMinIndia @IAF_MCC @adgpi @PMOIndia @SpokespersonMoD @CMOKerala pic.twitter.com/6AMaCKXGzm
— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) August 10, 2018
The timely rescue mission by the defence forces has helped affected people reach safe ground. However, the rescue operations carried out by the Army and Air Force, in association with NDRF personnel, are still going on.
#KeralaRain One shutter of the Cheruthoni Dam, a part of the dam system of the Idukki hydel reservoir, opened after 26 years, following heavy rains. #KeralaFloods @abpnewstv pic.twitter.com/QgcjLmMxVK
— Pinky Rajpurohit (@Madrassan)
Dramatic visuals of people being washed away in Kaniyambatta in #Wayanad #Kerala. People formed a human chain and tried to rescue them. The hilly districts of #Wayanad and #Idukky are been completely inundated with red alerts issued in both districts. #KeralaFloods #KeralaRains pic.twitter.com/VEfqy32Aum
— Paul Oommen (@Paul_Oommen) August 9, 2018
_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>August 9, 2018
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Well, multiple central and state government agencies, including the central water commission, IMD, Natural Disaster Management Authority, the Home Ministry and Defence Ministry, among others have come together to carry out what looks like one of the biggest flood relief and rescue operations in Kerala in recent times.