Heavy rain continues in Idukki; Kumily town inundated

Normal life disrupted as rain continued to lash various parts of district

Heavy rain continued to lash various parts of Idukki district, disrupting normal life. The district administration has opened a relief camp at Munnar, and a National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team has arrived in Idukki.

The Kumily town – part of the Kottarakkara-Dindigul National Highway in Idukki – came under heavy rain on Monday which led to the inundation of many areas. “The town experienced heavy rain around 3 a.m. on Monday, which suddenly led to the waterlogging of roads while water also entered many shops,” said a shop owner.

Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samity (KVVES) Kumily unit president Majo Karimuttam said that even a small amount of rain would leave the NH cutting through the town waterlogged, thereby flooding the shops on either sides. “The Kumily town is the entrance to the renowned tourism destination of Thekkady. The KVVES has already addressed the issue in a letter to the NH and panchayat authorities, but they have not yet taken any action. The KVVES plans to conduct an NH blockade, including a protest over the issue. The sudden waterlogging in shops is causing huge losses to the vendors,” said Mr. Karimuttam.

According to Idukki District Collector V. Vigneshwari, a relief camp has been opened at Mount Carmel Auditorium in Munnar on Monday and 19 people from the Anthoniyar Colony have been shifted to the relief camp. The collector also directed the authorities to remove the threat posed by trees from Neriamangalam-Valara stretch of the Kochi-Dhanushkodi National Highway.

According to officials, the widespread power outage in the district has affected normal life in Idukki. The collector banned night travel on the Gap Road stretch of the Munnar-Bodimettu Highway on Monday night.

A 33-member NDRF team reached the Idukki district to manage emergency situations. The Forest department dormitory at Vellappara will be the base camp of the NDRF team. Team Commander and Inspector Prasanth G. Cheenath said that the team will continue for the next three months in the district, and they will visit the Peermade, Devikulam, and Udumbanchola taluks and review the status.

According to officials, the shutters of Pamba, Kallarkutty and Malankara dams were opened. The water level in the Idukki dam on Monday was 2,331.30 ft as against 2,333.76 ft on the same day last year. The water level in the Mullaperiyar dam on Monday was 115.65 ft. The maximum allowed level, as fixed by the Supreme Court, is 142 ft.