Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra Floods; Death Toll Rises to 42; More Rains Likely in South Indian States

Heavy rains and the devastating flood has created a total havoc situation in Kerala where death toll rises up to 42. The situation in Wayanad district had turned worse since yesterday.  

Witnessing the severe condition, Kerala’s dam safety authority plans to open sluice gates of many swollen dams to ease pressure on reservoirs following heavy rain over the past few days even as much of the state is reeling under a devastating flood, officials said Saturday. 

Authorities ordered a high alert in Wayanad district ahead of opening the sluice gates of Banasurasagar dam, a third-largest dam in the state. Total around one lakh people across the state including 20000 from Wayanad have been evacuated from the danger zone so far. 

The death toll in the last four days has risen up to 42 and it is predicted that the situation may turn worse after the release of water from dams in the flood-hit state. Even, more than 50 are feared trapped under mud and debris triggered by landslides. 

 “The metrological department has declared red alert in 7 districts on Saturday and we are on full alert. We have asked all government servants to cancel their leaves and report to duty. We have set up control rooms in every district,” Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said. 

Moreover, Maharashtra and Karnataka are also affected by the fury of flood due to heavy rains. 

According to the report, two men have swept away in floodwaters in Maharashtra's Akola district in separate incidents in the last two days. Total 17 teams of NDRF teams are out for rescue operations in Sangli.  

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman raised concern over the flood situation in Karnataka and released a tweet recently, “On my way to North Karnataka. Floods are causing severe disruption to our daily lives. @BSYBJP @CMofKarnataka”