The overflowing Periyar reportedly caused extensive damage in Aluva and nearby areas on Monday. Nearly 150 families have been evacuated to various relief camps. The houses on both sides of Periyar are under the threat of being submerged if the rain continues with its current intensity.
Flood water has already submerged the car porches and entered the rooms of many houses on the banks on either side. Besides the lashing rain, the deluge is reported to be due to the opening of dams in Idukki district releasing excess water collected in them. In Aluva alone, Kodungalloor, Choornikkara and Kizhmad are the few panchayats which have been affected badly as per reports.
Almost a two kilometer area at Kayantikkara in Kadungalloor panchayat has gone under water. Kannod temple and Palazhi areas are the worst affected. Almost 130 houses are under water in the area. All roads in Keerippally area in the ninth ward of the panchayat are submerged and rendered inaccessible. A relief camp has been opened at Muppathadam Higher Secondary school and families have been shifted to it. Around 15 families near the landing ghat by the river at Edayar have been evacuated to Binanipuram Higher Secondary school.
Nearly nine families in Choornikkara panchayat from behind Standard Potteries have also been evacuated to a temporary shelter. Two places in Kizhmad panchayat, Thottumugham and Edayappuram, are in a state of isolation. A tributary of the Periyar, flowing between Thottumugham and Edayappuram, overflowed and flooded the area submerging all roads. A bridge has also been destroyed. In the town area, Aluva Manappuram is completely submerged in water.
As per reports, the house of PWD Minister V K Ebrahim Kunju was also flooded and he was not able to take out the car from the porch.
Basements as well as first floors of a few flats have been reportedly inundated with water. The controversial Mazhavil Restaurant built on the Periyar side was also affected, with the lobby fully under water. Thuruthu, near the town, has been left fully isolated as it has been cut off with scaling water.
The Aluva tehsildar said that the Navy has been deployed to save almost 600 families living in Thuruthu.