Thread by @mknid

#Keralafloods19 22 people killed so far, 22000 in 315 relief camps (more than half of them in Wayanad), says CM. 24 landslides so far. Trains cancelled in Alappuzha. Kochi airport shut. Banasura Sagar dam, biggest earthen dam in India that will flow more water to Wayanad, opened.

Kerala may get a breather as the current incessant rains are likely to subside after Saturday. But the worst may yet to come. From 15 Aug, another spell of extremely heavy rains expected. In its favour, 7 big dams are at 30% of their storage capacity, as per the power board KSEB.

Nearly all of Kerala's major rivers— Bharathapuzha, Chaliyar, Meenachil, Periyar, Pamba— are breaching banks. News channels showing visuals of low lying areas in all of northern districts and Idukki in shoulder-high waters or impacted by landslides.

Situation grim in Wayanad& Nilambur. 7 dead bodies recovered from a landslide near a colony of tea estate workers near Wayanad's Meppadi. 70 houses damaged, reports say. Army& NDRF on the spot.
7 deaths reported in Nilambur, where even two-story buildings flooded: local reports.

12pm update: 26069 people evacuated so far

Asianet News reports a major landslide in Malappuram's Kavalappara, 30 houses affected and several people feared to be missing or dead. This could be the biggest tragedy yet if NDRF team doesn't reach asap, says the reporter Saniyo. Govt says an NDRF team heading to the spot.

Asianet News reports a major landslide in Malappuram's Kavalappara, 30 houses affected and several people feared to be missing or dead. This could be the biggest tragedy yet if NDRF team doesn't reach asap, says the reporter Saniyo. Govt says an NDRF team heading to the spot.

Floods destroyed Kasargode's Kottappuram–Achamthuruthi footbridge, Kerala's largest bridge across a river (400m-long).

A correction: Banasura Sagar dam not opened yet, likely to be opened tomorrow morning only. Just spoke to a senior KSEB official.

Another major hit on connectivity. Railways cancel all trains bound to Kozhikode from Ernakulam until further notice. Meanwhile, two additional teams of NDRF (50 people in total) moved to Wayanad.

Another major landslide reported near Nilambur's Bhoothanam. Over 30 houses were on the spot, 50 people feared missing or dead, Manorama reports.

Message in journo WhatsApp group: CM will be going for a recce by Indian Air Force helicopter from Air Force station technical area Shangumukham by 4pm.

Graphix: No. of dams currently open in Kerala. Source: Malayala Manorama Online

Acc to one report, between yesterday and today 8.30am, Kerala received 156.3 mm, similar to floods in 2018; 4 stations received more than 300mm and 11 stations received more than 200mm; highest in Palakkad's Alathur.

Guess what? Even with this level of rainfall, Kerala is likely to be still rain deficit. Monsoon started on 1 June, but the rains didn't start. On 17 July, it was 48% rain deficit. It's either a no show Adoor movie or a houseful Angamaly Diaries.

#KeralaFloods19 Save these helplines numbers pls, via @dhanyarajendran

#KeralaFloods19 Rainfall prediction for the next four days (as of Friday 1pm). Red state today all the way from the northern tip to the south until Kottayam.

Landslide at Kavalappara in Nilambur, Malappuram dist, is possibly the worst case reported in #KeralaFloods19 so far. An entire hill is washed away, 30 families on the foothills feared dead/missing, acc local reports. One body, of a four-year old girl, recovered. NDRF on the spot

The other major landslide: Meppadi in Wayanad. Six bodies recovered, hundreds rescued (many had been evacuated before the rains intensified). NDRF-led search and rescue ongoing.

#KeralaFloods19: 28 deaths, 64013 evacuated, 738 camps opened (as of 3pm, death and missing nos are clearly higher now). Rs 22.5 cr immediate assistance sanctioned for flood relief.

#FakeNews floating that 24 hour power cut tmrw. No such thing, says public relations officer of KSEB.

#KeralaFloods Friday summary: Waters inching up to even two-story houses. People forced to leave their homes in shoulder-high waters. Corpses recovered from hills, houses smashed in landslides. 28 people killed. 64,013 in camps. ₹1000 cr damage livemint.com/news/india/ker…