ThiruvananThapuram: At least five people were killed and 20 were reported missing on Saturday as heavy rain banging south and Kerala was causing floods and landslides in many parts, encouraging the state government to seek army and air force assistance for rescue operations.
Weather experts connect intense spells, who see many places to record rainfall more than 5 cm in a two-hour range, to ‘Mini-Cloud Burst Events’.
The Peermade recorded the highest rainfall in the state with 24 cm followed by Cheruthoni, Chalakudy and Poonjar at 14 cm.
Six districts were placed on a red warning on Saturday.
According to the Monson Daily Report on the IMD, Kerala received 74% of excess rainfall on Saturday.
Between October 7 and October 13, the state has received 166% over average rainfall of around 19 cm.
Some people were injured and displaced in the incident related to rain.
Dams in many districts close to full capacity and small cities and villages in hilly areas are cut off from the outside world.
Kottayam and Pathanamthitta are the most affected districts like now.
“The situation is sad,” said Chief of Pinarayi Vijayan.
IAF and the Army mobilized their assets in Kottayam, Idukki and Pathanamthitta.
Army personnel from the Pangode Military Station have been rushed to flood-affected areas.
Mi-17 helicopters and nests are standby to meet the requirements on the tulur of a base of water.
However, because of bad weather, they cannot be operated until late at night.
All bases under the South Air Command have been placed in high warnings considering the prevalent weather situation, a defense spokesman said.
The high-level meeting chaired by Pinarayi decided to increase rescue operations in several places with heavy rain.
He asked officials to keep a strict surprise at the water level of the dam while, three family members were killed and nearly eight people were missing after landslides in Kottayam.
Logot Longlide hit the cock on the border of Kottayam-Idukki and eight people missing.