Kerala Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan said the flood situation is largely under control despite heavy rains claiming 15 lives and leaving seven people missing.
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NIRMAL HARINDRAN / THE HINDU
Assuring that the flood situation in Kerala is largely under control, Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan on Monday said special arrangements have been put in place in Pathanamthitta, one of the worst-affected districts, to tackle the crisis.Speaking to reporters after a monsoon review meeting, the Chief Minister said heavy rains have claimed 15 lives so far, while seven people remain missing. A total of 316 relief camps have been opened across the State, and crop damage has affected 3,596 farmers over 165 hectares.He attributed the flash floods to extremely intense, localised rainfall that left little time for evacuation. “When such intense rainfall occurs, there is hardly any time to evacuate people. Some places, including Vadasserikara in Pathanamthitta, received more than 350 mm of rainfall. Experts attribute this to El Niño. As temperatures rise, evaporation increases, resulting in heavy rainfall,” he said.The Chief Minister also dismissed rumours about the emergency opening of dams and warned that strict legal action would be taken against those spreading false information. He said water levels in most reservoirs remain low because of the rainfall deficit experienced before the current spell.Relief measures and rescue operations stepped upAnnouncing immediate financial assistance for affected families, Satheesan said ₹10,000 would be provided towards the funeral expenses of those who lost their lives in the floods. Families whose houses were inundated will also receive ₹10,000 as immediate relief. Those who lost their homes will be given ₹8 lakh, while families who lost both their house and land will receive ₹12 lakh.Emergency rescue operations have been intensified across vulnerable areas. Fishing boats from Kollam have been deployed at Chengannur for rescue operations, while two helicopters stationed at the Sulur Air Force base are on standby. Personnel from the Defence Security Corps and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) have also been mobilised to respond to emergencies.The government has also kept food packets ready for distribution in affected areas, including specially packed supplies that can be air-dropped by helicopters if required.Farmers advised to prevent crop lossesMeanwhile, Kerala Agricultural University has issued an advisory urging farmers to take immediate preventive measures to minimise crop losses caused by waterlogging and disease outbreaks. Prolonged rainfall and high humidity have created favourable conditions for the spread of several bacterial and fungal diseases in major crops. Farmers have been advised to drain excess water from fields as soon as the rains subside and initiate preventive plant protection measures without delay.Published on August 3, 2026
