Even as the torrential rains stayed away for most part of the day, the spectre of floods loom large over the low-lying regions of central Travancore with run-off water from the upper reaches beginning to enter these areas.
In Kottayam, several houses in Thiruvarppu, Kumarakom grama panchayats were inundated, prompting authorities to relocate people. As per official records, eight relief camps were opened in the district and a total of 76 people of 26 families were shifted to the camps. S
Several people in Chengalam, Kiliroor, Kummanam, Kanjiram and Malarikkal areas of Thiruvarppu panchayat were shifted to relief camps after their houses were inundated. Though water entered on Kottayam–Kumarakom road at Illikkal with the Meenachil river breaching its banks, traffic was not disrupted till late evening.
Traffic along this route, however, faced a major disruption when a tree fell onto the road at Ampakuzhy, but it was quickly cleared.
Scores of houses in the low-lying areas of Vaikom and Thalayolaparambu regions were also inundated after water level rose in Muvattupuzha and Kariyar rivers as well as in the K.V. Canal. Unofficial estimates stated around 400 families in Vaikom region were affected by floods with more than 100 houses reported as flooded. The low-lying areas of Vaikom, such as Vazhamana, Kodiyadu, Muttungal and Padinjarakkara, are the most affected. In Udayanapuram panchayat, houses situated within the Manappally polders, which span about 200 acres, were the hardest hit.
Houses in the Chemmanathukara and Moothedathukavu areas on the banks of the Kariyar are also at risk of flooding. The stream connected to the river has overflowed its banks in the Muttungal section of the Vazhamana-Muttungal road, making traffic in this area challenging.
Many tributaries of the Muvattupuzha river overflowed their banks, causing water to enter the low-lying areas of Thalayazham, Udayanapuram, Maravanthuruthu and Thalayolaparambu panchayats.
Kottayam District Collector John V. Samuel, who is also the chairman of the District Disaster Management Authority, has ordered a ban on entry to tourist destinations such as Ilaveezhapoonchira and Illikkalkallu as well as night travel on the Erattupetta-Vagamon road until May 30. Access to the Marmala stream too has been suspended until further notice. The Collector has also ordered a ban on all mining activities in the district until further notice due to the continued rains in the district and a warning of very heavy rain in the coming days.
The Collector has instructed that all revenue officials should not leave the station. The order states that the Joint Director of the Local Self-Government Department, municipal and grama panchayat secretaries, etc. should also not leave the station and that they should coordinate activities related to natural disasters.
Meanwhile, heavy rains have triggered a rise in water levels across all rivers in Pathanamthitta district.
The Moozhiyar Dam’s water level reached 192.63 metres , prompting the authorities to sound a red alert and open its shutters to regulate waterflow. This caused the river to swell, raising concerns for downstream areas including Angamoozhi and Seethathodu.
The State Irrigation Department has issued an orange alert for the Achankovil and Manimala rivers, following a dangerous rise in water levels. In the low-lying areas, over 30 houses in Thiruvalla were submerged due to rising waters. The catchment zones of several dams under the Sabarigiri hydroelectric project, including Kochupamba, Kakki, Anathode and Moozhiyar experienced heavy rainfall during the day
Emergency teams are on standby to assist as the region braces for continued heavy rainfall.
The situation remains critical as an Orange Alert has been issued for Wednesday, followed by Red Alert on Thursday and Friday.
Published – May 27, 2025 07:59 pm IST
