Severe flooding paralyses central Travancore

Central Travancore continues to reel under the impact of severe flooding triggered by relentless rainfall, with the districts of Kottayam, Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha bearing the brunt. In light of the worsening weather, authorities have declared a holiday for all educational institutions in Kottayam district as well as Kuttanad taluk on Saturday.

The Kuttanad region, spanning across the three districts, has been the worst affected. Torrential runoff from the upper reaches has inundated vast areas via multiple rivers. Water levels have breached danger marks, flooding low-lying areas and severely disrupting normal life. Interior roads have gone underwater, paralysing traffic across many routes.

In Talavady panchayat, floodwaters entered the Chakkulathukavu temple premises and its approach roads, hindering access to the shrine.

Waterlogging has been reported on the Chakkulathukavu–Kidangara road at Muttar and on the Edathua–Champakulam road at Changankari and Kandanakari. The Edathua–Koduppunna and Edathua–Mampuzhakary stretches are also submerged, restricting vehicular movement.

Strong winds

High-velocity winds accompanying the rain uprooted trees, many of which fell onto houses, causing partial structural damage. So far, 19 houses have been reported partially damaged in Alappuzha district. Power supply remains disrupted in several areas due to damaged lines and fallen trees.

Seven relief camps have been set up in the region, currently accommodating 455 individuals from 122 families. As many as 11 gruel centres are operating in Kuttanad to provide food and basic services to flood-affected residents.

In Pathanamthitta, floodwaters have displaced around 140 people from 40 families, primarily from low-lying areas. Persistent rain and strong winds have worsened the situation in hilly regions, damaging homes, infrastructure and farmland.

According to official data, 197 houses have suffered partial damage, while four have been completely destroyed. Thiruvalla taluk recorded the highest number of damaged homes (53), followed by Ranni (37), Adoor (32), and Kozhencherry (31). Konni and Mallappally each reported 22 affected homes.

Orange alert

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for the Pamba, Achankovil and Manimala rivers. Flooding has been severe in areas such as Thirumoolapuram, Attumali, Pulikathramali, and Mangalassery in Thiruvalla.

Cherukulanji in Ranni received the highest rainfall at 198 mm, followed by Kakki (175 mm), Pampa (129 mm), Moozhiyar (126 mm), and Vadasserikkara (134 mm).

Eight relief camps have been opened in the district, including six in Thiruvalla taluk, which together shelter 140 people, including 67 men, 56 women, and 17 children.

Power outages remain widespread as strong winds damaged 124 high-tension posts, 677 low-tension posts, and 992 transformers. Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) estimates losses at ₹68.2 lakh.

The agricultural sector has also suffered heavy losses, with crops destroyed over 90.75 hectares, affecting 1,676 farmers. Total damages are estimated at ₹2.52 crore.

In Kottayam

In Kottayam, flooding has submerged numerous houses across Kottayam, Vaikom, and Changanassery taluks. The Thiruvarppu panchayat is almost entirely underwater, while about half of Ayamanam and eastern Kumarakom panchayat have also been affected. Parts of the Manarcad, Vijayapuram, Udayanapuram and Vechur panchayats as well as areas within Vaikom municipality are facing similar devastation due to overflowing rivers.

Currently, 36 relief camps are operating across the district, housing 675 people from 210 families. On Friday alone, 48 more houses were reported partially damaged, raising the monsoon-season total to 273.

Power supply remains inconsistent in areas where trees brought down electric lines and poles. KSEB has estimated the cumulative loss in the Kottayam and Pala circles at ₹7.9 crore.

The agricultural sector has also taken a significant hit. According to the District Agriculture department, crops across 126 hectares have been damaged, resulting in losses worth ₹4.27 crore.

Published - May 30, 2025 08:48 pm IST