IDUKKI: Heavy rain continues to batter the district on the 4th consecutive day on Wednesday, causing huge damage to houses and crops. Houses were destroyed and traffic on the National Highway was disrupted after huge uprooted trees fell on rooftops and roads. Two children have been injured after a tree collapsed on their house at Kalkoonthal near Nedumkandam on Wednesday morning.
The injured have been identified as Muhammed Sikkandar, 15, and Badhusha, 14, children of Noushadh of Mullassery house, Kalkoonthal. The children were sleeping inside the house when the tree fell. They have been admitted to a private hospital in Nedumkandam. Their condition is stated to be not serious.
More than half of Noushadh’s house was destroyed in the calamity. A huge tree that stood near his home, inside a cardamom plantation, collapsed in the heavy rain. Noushadh was at his home when the incident happened. The children were rushed to the hospital by the local people.
Heavy rain triggered landslips in various pockets of the district. A major landslide was reported from Edadu near Elappally on the Moolamattam - Wagamon route.
Traffic was disrupted for hours as tonnes of earth and boulders piled up on the road. However, traffic was resumed after the fire force removed the boulders from the road.
Similarly, a landslip occurred near Panamkutty check post which led to the creation of a traffic snarl on the highway.
The wall of an under-construction house owned by Suresh Kumar of Valiyaveedu house, Kalvari Mount near Kattappana in Idukki collapsed in the rain that lashed the district on Wednesday. Since there was nobody near the premises of the house, a huge tragedy was averted.
Peerumade Taluk recorded the highest amount of rainfall which was at 118.0 mm followed by Munnar which recorded a rainfall of 102.8 mm. While Idukki received 94.0 mm rainfall, Thodupuzha and Myladumpara taluks received 78.3 and 42.8 mm rainfall respectively.
Shutters of Kakkayam dam opened
Kozhikode: The shutters of the Kakkayam dam were opened on Wednesday owing to heavy rain in the area and increase in the water level. The district administration has issued warnings to those residing on the banks of the Kuttiyadi river following concerns over water level rising in the river. District Collector U V Jose has said control rooms would function at the taluk headquarters round-the-clock. Travelling to hilly areas in the night should be avoided, the advisory said.
3 acres washed away in landslide
Idukki: Three acres were washed away in the landslide which occurred at Edadu near Elappally in Idukki. The slush and boulders flowed through the farmland owned by Benny of Vadakkedath house, Sunny of Vadakkedathu house and Sabu of Erimattam house, Muttom, destroying the rubber, pepper, cocoa, plantain and pineapple cultivated in the land.
As the excavator came late to remove the boulders, the police took the lead in removing the debris along with Elappally village officials, Fire and Rescue Services personnel and local residents. As the road to Elappally Methanam estate was completely destroyed in the landslide, traffic through this road has been blocked.