District administration deploys additional boats to rescue people from the flood-affected area at Ranni in Pathanamthitta on Saturday.
| Photo Credit: ANI
Several parts of Pathanamthitta district were hit by a flood-like emergency on Saturday after an unexpected spell of extremely heavy rain lashed the region from Friday evening, triggering flash floods, landslips and widespread inundation.The district received intermittent rain through Friday before the downpour intensified overnight. Around 300 mm of rainfall was recorded in the Sabarimala forests, leading to a sharp rise in runoff and swelling rivers. The intense rain also triggered a series of landslips and soil slips in high-range areas, including Thannithodu. Vadasserikkara recorded 339 mm of rainfall in the 24 hours ending Saturday morning.Ranni emerged as the worst-affected area, with the town virtually cut off after floodwaters submerged key approach roads, including the Ranni-Vadasserikkara road, bringing traffic to a standstill. The town remained under two to two-and-a-half feet of water through the day. Floodwaters surged into houses within minutes, forcing residents to move to upper floors, while many families remained stranded inside their homes.Several families were also stranded at Ittiyappara, where rescue teams were yet to reach. A number of people took refuge on the upper floors of commercial buildings as floodwaters continued to rise.As a precautionary measure, power supply was disconnected in Ranni and neighbouring areas.Rescue operationsRescue operations were led by teams from the Disaster Management Authority and the Fire and Rescue Services, which evacuated stranded residents using dinghies and coracles. The district administration also initiated steps to deploy additional rescue boats to the area.The flooding caused extensive damage to businesses in Ranni town, with floodwaters entering most commercial establishments before traders could move their goods to safety. Shop owners estimated losses running into several crores of rupees.
