Kerala rains: 4 dead, 3 missing; red alert sounded in many districts
Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 21: Four people have died and three, including two fishermen from Tamil Nadu, are still missing as rains continued to lash Kerala, with red alert being sounded in Kasargod, Idukki, Kozhikode and Kannur districts till July 23.
The body of Sahayaraju (55), one of the missing fishermen from Tamil Nadu, was found in Kollam district.
Two other fishermen had managed to swim to safety, the coastal police said.
"The search is on for the remaining two missing fishermen. A Coast Guard ship and two boats of Marine Enforcement are searching for them," a coastal police official told PTI.
The body of Manesh Sebastian, who went missing in the Meenachil river of Kottayam district, was retrieved by the Navy.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red alert in Kasargod and Idukki districts on July 21, and Kozhikode, Wayanad and Kannur districts on July 22.
It has also predicted extremely heavy rainfall in Kannur and Kasargod districts of the southern state on July 23.
The weatherman has also issued orange alert in Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Malappuram till July 25.
Even though the intensity of rains has reduced, coastal areas of the state continue to bore the brunt of the rough sea.
The Thiruvananthapuram district administration has opened six relief camps and moved 143 families there from the coastal areas.
"A total of 603 people are in the relief camps. Food and other necessary items are being provided," District Collector K Gopalakrishnan said in a release.
Authorities have declared holiday to the Vettukadu St Mary's LP school, where the relief camp is functioning.
The Kannur district administration has declared holiday for all educational institutions including professional colleges on Monday, in the wake of red alert issued by the IMD.
In Kottayam district, holiday has been declared for most educational institutions tomorrow.
The St Thomas School at Thirumoolapuram near Thiruvalla in Pathanamthitta district, which is functioning as a relief camp has also been asked to declare holiday tomorrow.
The Kerala government has asked tourists to stay away from Shankumugham Beach in state capital Thiruvananthapuram, citing danger.
The IMD has also cautioned fishermen from venturing into the sea.
According to sources of the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), hundreds of houses from coastal areas of the state have been evacuated.
In the hilly Idukki district, a minor landslide occurred Saturday morning at Konnathady village, causing crop loss.
There were no casualties, official sources said, adding people have been advised against travelling to hilly areas.
Koshy Varghese (53) drowned after slipping into the Manimala river at Thiruvalla while fishing.
Dileep Kumar (54) from Kollam died when a coconut tree fell on him on Friday, Kerala State Disaster Management sources said.
A man who had gone to bathe at Fort Kochi beach is also missing.
A total of 12 relief camps have been opened for those living in low-lying areas and whose homes have been flooded.
According to SDMA, 13 houses have been fully damaged so far and 71 partially in the state.
"As of now, we have opened two relief camps in Kasargod.
Nearly 15 persons have been shifted there. There are many others who have opted to move to their relatives," a disaster management official from Kasargod said.
The Central Water Commission website said water in Periyar, Pamba and Chaliyar rivers in the state is rising.
In the northernmost Kasaragod district where red alert has been issued, the maximum rainfall recorded was 9 cm, whereas certain places in Kannur received 9.7 cm rain.
The Kariangode river is in spate and has changed its course, flooding 50 houses in the vicinity.
People have been shifted to relief camps, sources said.
According to reports, the Madananthesswara Sidhi Vinayaka temple at Madhur has been flooded.
In a huge relief, four fishers who had gone missing after putting out to sea from nearby Vizhinjam on Wednesday, returned safely Saturday.
Their boat had developed a technical fault and was drifting about 28 nautical miles from the shore.
The fishermen, who were left without food, have been shifted to a hospital.
The families of the missing fishermen had been staging protests at Vizhinjam beach area since Friday demanding immediate action to trace their kin.
In Arratupuzha, relief camps have been opened to accommodate the families, who were shifted there after sea water entered their houses.
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PM Modi speaks to Iranian president, discusses 'serious' situation in West Asia
New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday night spoke to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian over the phone and discussed the "serious situation" in West Asia.
Modi expressed deep concern over the escalation of tensions in the region and the loss of civilian lives as well as damage to civilian infrastructure.
The prime minister told the Iranian President that the safety and security of Indian nationals, along with the need for unhindered transit of goods and energy, remain India's top priorities.
“Had a conversation with Iranian President, Dr Masoud Pezeshkian, to discuss the serious situation in the region. Expressed deep concern over the escalation of tensions and the loss of civilian lives as well as damage to civilian infrastructure,” Modi said in a post on X.
The prime minister also reiterated India's commitment to peace and stability and urged dialogue and diplomacy to end the crisis.
The prime minister had spoken to leaders of several West Asian countries in the last 10 days in the wake of the coordinated offensive launched against Iran by the United States and Israel, in which the Islamic country's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed last month.
In retaliation, Iran has fired drones and missiles at Israel and US military installations around the Gulf region, including the global business and aviation hubs of Dubai and Doha.
Modi earlier spoke to the leaders of Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Jordan, Israel and Qatar, and expressed concern over the attacks on their countries, and condemned the violation of some nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He also discussed the welfare and security of the Indian community residing in those countries.
Around 1 crore Indians live in the Gulf and West Asia. While about 10,000 Indian citizens live, study and work in Iran, more than 40,000 live in Israel.
