Flood fury eases in Pathanamthitta district in Kerala, Upper Kuttanad still under siege

After being on tenterhooks for the past 24 hours, Pathanamthitta finally got some respite on Sunday as floodwaters began receding from several inundated areas, offering relief to thousands affected by the deluge. However, the Upper Kuttanad region continued to bear the brunt of the rain fury, with rising waters forcing more evacuations and disrupting normal life.

Water levels in major rivers, including the Pamba, Achankovil and Manimala rivers, started receding as residents in the upper reaches began returning home. In Ranni, one of the worst-affected areas in the district, the flood situation improved considerably, allowing residents and traders to begin the recovery process. Shop owners were seen removing water-damaged goods from their establishments, with traders estimating losses running into several crores of rupees.

The floodwaters in Aranmula also began to recede, while authorities continued to urge people living in vulnerable areas to remain vigilant. The storage position in major reservoirs remained comfortable, with the live storage level in the Pamba reservoir at 35.47% and the Kakki dam at 44.11%.

However, as water receded from the upper reaches, the runoff entered the low-lying Upper Kuttanad region, inundating several houses and triggering a large-scale evacuation drive. Water levels continued to rise through the day in parts of the region, even as more people were shifted to relief camps.

Floodwaters from the Pamba and Manimala rivers spilled onto the Thiruvalla–Ambalappuzha State Highway around 1 a.m., inundating roads, houses, commercial establishments and places of worship. The Nedumpram stretch, which is prone to flooding during intense rain spells, witnessed major disruption to traffic movement.

KSRTC suspended services through the waterlogged stretch at Nedumpram. Buses from the Alappuzha, Edathua and Haripad depots operated only up to Chakkulathukavu Junction, while services from Thiruvalla were curtailed at Vaikkathillam Bridge.

Traffic on the Thiruvalla–Ambalappuzha State Highway came to a standstill after nearly 1.5 km of the road, from Padarattilpadi to NC Junction at Nedumpram, was submerged.

As of Sunday evening, the district had 95 relief camps sheltering 3,568 people. Thiruvalla taluk, which includes parts of the Upper Kuttanad region, accounted for the highest number of camps at 47. A detailed assessment is under way to ascertain the extent of damage to houses and property. Authorities have also issued orders to clear flood debris. Preliminary estimates indicate that one house was completely damaged, while 42 houses suffered partial damage.

In view of the continuing heavy rain and flooding, District Collector A. Nizamudeen declared a holiday for all educational institutions in Pathanamthitta, from anganwadis to professional colleges, as well as tuition centres, on Monday. The holiday will not apply to scheduled public and university examinations.

The Travancore Devaswom Board has also issued an advisory urging Sabarimala pilgrims to exercise extreme caution, considering the prevailing weather conditions.