IDUKKI: Heavy rain lashed the district on Tuesday, leading to landslips and traffic snarl-ups at various localities. Electric lines were also damaged in some areas. The Idukki taluk received the highest rainfall (87 mm), followed by Peermade (77 mm). Low-lying areas in the district were inundated and water-level in the Thodupuzha and Muvattupuzha rivers rose as four shutters of the Malankara dam were opened by 100 cm each. The move caused severe hardships to those living along the river banks.
The rain also triggered landslips at various pockets of the district, disrupting traffic and throwing normal life out of gear. The protection wall of the house owned by Sudheesh of ‘Ambalavilayil’ in Kattappana was destroyed in the torrential rainfall causing the earth and boulders to fall onto the road.
Traffic on the Elappara-Chemmannu Road was disrupted after a huge eucalyptus tree fell there on Monday night. Traffic on the Kottarakkara-Dindigul NH was disrupted after the stretch at Nellimala near Vandiperiyar got submerged in rainwater. Pedestrians had a tough time negotiating the waterlogged roads.
Large-scale damage to electric lines was reported under Adimaly, Munnar and Upputhara electrical sections. In most areas, power supply has been disrupted for the past two days.
Crop loss
Farmers are also bearing the brunt of the monsoon fury, which has led to huge crop losses at high range areas of Idukki. The farmers who were preparing their fields for cultivation after sustaining loss worth lakhs of rupees due to the heavy downpour in May were once again hit by the incessant rain, which strengthened from Sunday.
Water level rises
Water level in the Idukki and Mullaperiyar reservoirs rose by one ft each on Tuesday taking it to 2,355.86 ft and 123.8 ft, respectively. On Monday, the water level in the Idukki reservoir was 2,354.2 ft compared to 2,315.48 ft on the same day last year. Tourists have been asked to stay away from hillside destinations and visits to dam premises have also been restricted. A warning has been issued against parking vehicles under trees.
Schoolkids marooned on flooded NH
Idukki: A group of school students at Vandiperiyar here, who were en route home from school on Tuesday, were stranded on the flooded NH at Nellimala near here. The children crossing the waterlogged stretch got trapped in the torrent set off by the passing vehicles.
Though they clung to the protection wall of the river nearby, from which the water had entered the road, their books and bags were submerged. The wall constructed on the either side of the road to prevent river water from entering the road literally saved the students.