As many as 55,340 people have been rescued to safety from the Pathanamthitta district, according to official figures. There are 448 relief camps in the district, said a press statement released on Saturday.
This is the third day of rescue operations. The body of Baiju from Kanjiravely, Aranmula, who has been missing for three days, was found today.
Seventy people with fatigue were admitted in hospital, said the statement.
Special arrangements have been made to take food and other basic requirements to the people at relief camps. The government will work with volunteers for this. Apart from the Marthoma Youth Centre in Adoor, coordinators have been put in place in six taluks for this purpose.
The rescue work was more focussed on Thiruvalla on the third day. Medicines were taken to Thiruvalla through air.
Though people have started moving back to their homes when the water receded, it would be difficult to stay there with the all the mud from the water.
Amid all this, there was some concern about raising the shutters of Anathodu and Kakki dams. Three out of the four shutters were raised from 75 cm to 90 cm. But despite initial fears, the dams did not have to be completely opened on Saturday, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said at a press conference today.
The District Collector has warned the people living on the banks of Pamba River to take necessary precautions.
Pandalam is still under water since Achankovil river is flowing into the shores.
Though the water level has come down in most places, it is still rising in Kuttanad, Alappuzha, added the CM.
Thirty-three people are believed to have died today, the CM said. But anxiety around the Chengannur area has come down. Many places that could not be reached earlier were accessible. The total number of people rescued today, as per official figures, is 58,506 – which means, most of the stranded saved today are from Pathanamthitta.