Monsoon roundup: Floods ravage India; Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka worst-hit
Massive rains have led to a critical flood situation in several states across India. The peninsular states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Maharashtra are among the worst-hit ones. The states of Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat continue to be lashed by incessant rains. The Nilgiris of Tamil Nadu are also reeling under heavy rainfall, while Goa and Odisha are dealing with the after-effects of floods.
In Kerala, nine districts are on red alert as death toll climbed to 42 due to flooding and landslides. Additionally, three districts are on orange alert, while 2 others on yellow alert. Wayanad remains the worst-hit district. Reportedly, 1,07,699 have been shifted to 988 relief camps. To note, Kerala witnessed its worst-ever floods exactly a year ago that had killed over 400.
In western Maharashtra, over 2.85L people were affected due to the deluge. Kolhapur and Sangli remain the worst-hit districts due to the devastating floods, which has claimed minimum 37 lives. Several villages in these two districts remained submerged in water, forcing people to travel on boats. However, floodwaters receded as Karnataka's Almatti dam released 4,80,000 cusecs of water yesterday. Normal life however remains disrupted.
As torrential rains battered Karnataka, the death toll in the state climbed to 16 yesterday evening. Eight of these deaths were reported from the worst-hit Belagavi district. According to The News Minute, over 2 lakh have been displaced, and 1.4 lakh are currently taking shelter across the state's 576 relief camps. Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa visited the flood-hit regions yesterday.
Amid floods in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Kerala, the Indian Coast Guard mobilized 53 response teams to conduct rescue operations. Yesterday, Minister of State (Home) Nityanand Rai chaired a high-level meeting to deal with the situation, upon the direction of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
In Gujarat, 26 of the 30 gates at the Sardar Sarovar Narmada dam were opened for the first time since installation in 2017, as the Narmada exceeded its danger mark. 14 dams and reservoirs overflowed in the last 24 hours as massive rains lashed Gujarat over the last two days. Eight people died as a building wall collapsed due to heavy rains in Nadiad.
In other regions as well, heavy rains disrupted normal life. Reportedly, 18 NDRF teams and 11 SDRF teams have been deployed across Gujarat to deal with the floods. The westernmost state of India has already recorded 77.8% of the season's total rainfall.
Even as Chennai grapples with water-scarcity, five people were killed in rain-related incidents in the Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu. 1,704 persons have been moved to 28 relief camps amid floods and landslides. In Madhya Pradesh, at least one death was reported due to floods as the Narmada exceeded its danger mark. Many others have been swept by waves. Around 1,000 people were rescued yesterday.
On Friday, the Indian Navy rescued 31 people, who belonged to a fishing community, as the Godavari flooded in Polavaram region of Andhra Pradesh. Over the past week, incessant rains have caused the river to flow above its danger mark.
