India – Floods Leave 12 Dead and Over 34,000 Displaced in Kerala

A second spell of heavy monsoon rainfall has caused severe flooding in parts of the state of Kerala in southern India.

Heavy rain that began around 09 July, 2018, has caused flooding in 13 districts. At least 12 people have died and 6 reported missing during the period 09 to 17 July.

As of 17 July, 34,693 people had moved to 265 relief camps after flood water inundated low-lying areas. Thirty-six houses have been completely destroyed while 1,214 suffered partial damage.

According to reports from India’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the districts currently affected include Kollam, Kasaragod, Alappuzha, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Palakad, Malappuram, Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam, Kottyam, Idukki, Thiruvanthapuram and Wayanad.

Schools have been closed in affected areas for the last few days. Two teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) consisting of 85 rescuers with 7 boats have been deployed.

Kerala’s State Disaster Management Authority said that further heavy rain of up to 200 mm in 24 hours is expected until 21 July, 2018, and warned of possible further flooding and landslides.

Rainfall and Rivers in Kerala

Between 01 June and 17 July, Idukki (1567.8 mm), Kottyam (1435.3 mm) and Palakkad (1182.6 mm) have recorded rainfall levels more than 40% higher than normal according to the India Meteorological Department.

In a 24 hour period to 17 July, 2018, Idukki recorded 64.2 mm of rain and Ernakulam 56.9 mm.

India’s Central Water Commission said via that “due to very heavy rainfall to isolated extremely heavy rainfall in Ernakulam, Alapuzzah and Idukki districts of Kerala, most of the rivers in around Ernakulam are rising.”

Monsoon in India 2018

This year’s monsoon rain first hit parts of Kerala in early June, causing deadly flooding and affecting 14 districts.

Rain, flooding and landslides have continued in the state since then and NDMA says that 81 people have died and over 8,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed since the start of the monsoon this year.

At least 11 other states have been severely affected by the monsoon rain so far this year, including Manipur, Tripura, Assam, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Karnataka, Jammu and Kashmir and Gujarat.

According to the latest statistics from NDMA, a total of 511 people have lost their lives and 176 people have been injured as a result of the monsoon. Around 55,000 houses have been damaged and livelihoods severely affected, in particular agriculture where thousands of livestock have been destroyed and 81,147 hectares of farm land and crops damaged.

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Flood Summary

Last updated: August 30, 2018
Event
Kerala, India, July to August 2018
Date
July 9 to August 30, 2018
Type
Urban flood, Flash flood, Landslide, River flood
Cause
Reservoir release, Extreme rainfall, Long-term rainfall

Locations

A - Kollam
B - Kasaragod
C - Alappuzha
D - Thrissur
E - Kozhikode
F - Palakad
G - Malappuram
H - Pathanamthitta
I - Ernakulam
J - Kottyam
K - Idukki
L - Thiruvanthapuram
M - Wayanad

Magnitude

Rainfall level
64.2 mm in 24 hours
Idukki - July 16 to July 17, 2018
IMD figures
Rainfall level
56.9 mm in 24 hours
Ernakulam - July 16 to July 17, 2018
IMD figures
Rainfall level
78.7 mm in 24 hours
Cohin - July 17 to July 18, 2018
WMO figures
Rainfall level
112 mm in 24 hours
Kozhikode - July 17 to July 18, 2018
WMO figures
Dam level
731.18 metres
Idukki Reservoir - August 15 to August 15, 2018
Figures from Kerala Disaster Management (KSDMA) Idukki Reservoir level (given in feet) was 2,398.90 feet (731.18 m), where FRL is 2,403 feet (732.43 metres).
Dam level
169.20 metres
Idamalayar dam - August 15 to August 15, 2018
Full reservoir level (FRL) is 169 metres
River level
Overflowing
River Valapatnam at Perumannu in Kannur District - August 15 to August 15, 2018
India’s Central Water Commission Flood Forecast unit said that the River Valapatnam at Perumannu in Kannur District is flowing in “Extreme Flood Situation.”
Rainfall level
79.1 mm in 24 hours
Idukki - August 13 to August 14, 2018
India Meteorological Department (IMD) figures
Rainfall level
75.2 mm in 24 hours
Kasargod - August 13 to August 14, 2018
Rainfall level
83.4 mm in 24 hours
Kozikod - August 13 to August 14, 2018
Rainfall level
75.5 mm in 24 hours
Malappuram - August 13 to August 14, 2018
Rainfall level
73.3 mm in 24 hours
Wayanad - August 13 to August 14, 2018
Rainfall level
214 mm in 24 hours
Palakkad - August 8 to August 9, 2018
Local meteorological observers Chennai Rains said via Social Media that Palakkad recorded 214 mm of rainfall in 24 hours to early 09 August, adding “that’s just about 20 mm short of highest recorded 24 hour rainfall in the city, 236 mm way back in May 1957.”
Rainfall level
167.2 mm in 24 hours
Idukki - August 8 to August 9, 2018
India Meteorological Department (IMD) figures
Rainfall level
83.2 mm in 24 hours
Malappuram - August 8 to August 9, 2018
Rainfall level
170.9 mm in 24 hours
Wayanad - August 8 to August 9, 2018
River level
712 metres
River Kabini at Muthankera, Wynadu District - August 9 to August 9, 2018
India’s Central Water Commission Flood Forecast unit figures - this is a record high

Damages

Fatalities
480 people
Kerala - July 9 to August 28, 2018
Figures from India's National Emergency Response Centre (NERC) (pdf) report as of 28 August, 2018
Evacuated
1,452,425
Kerala - July 9 to August 28, 2018
According to NERC figures over 1 million people have been displaced by floods and accommodated in 5,645 relief camps. As of 28 August there remained 696 camps.
Buildings destroyed
1822 buildings
Kerala - July 9 to August 28, 2018
21,695 suffered partial damage
Rescued
535 people
August 9 to August 21, 2018
According to NERC, India's From 9 August, 2018 to 21 August, 2018, National Disaster Response Force had rescued 535 people and evacuated 25,225. Medical assistance was provided to 5562.