Days and nights of heavy rains have made it necessary to open the shutter of the Banasura Sagar dam in Wayanad, which will be done by 3 pm on Saturday, the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority has said. The catchment area of the dam has been receiving heavy rainfall and the rainwater will need to be diverted to the Karamanathodu tributary of the Kabini river.
Banasura Sagar dam executive engineer has advised caution as the shutter will need to be opened and water let out in small amounts. It is possible that the water level in Karamanathodu will be raised by 10 to 15 cm and hence people on the banks should remain remain alert.
As of August 10 morning, a red warning has been issued in eight districts of Kerala, including Ernakulam, Idukki, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasargode. For the remaining six districts, an orange warning is in place.
There are no red warnings for Sunday, August 11, while nine districts have been issued orange warning.
As of Saturday morning, the death toll stands at 42, with Wayanad and Malappuram being the worst affected districts. Landslides in both these places have made it difficult for rescue personnel to reach the stranded people. According to government sources, 1,08,138 people from 29,997 families have been moved from their homes, and around 1,003 relief camps have been set up across the state.
Acres of land have been wiped out at Puthumala in Wayanad. In Kannur, two causalities have been reported, including a person who drowned in the Payannur region. Palakkad and Pala town in central Kerala are also flooded.
Certain parts of tribal hamlets in Attapadi have been cut off following a landslide. People have been shifted to relief camps in boats in some of the affected areas by the National Disaster Response Force personnel.
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