Idukki:&nbsp;Even though rains have subsided in Kerala, various dams across the state continue to discharge excess water on Monday after red alerts have been issued in many of them as the water level has breached the upper rule curve.The water level at Cheruthoni dam of Idukki reservoir is at 2,385.70 feet, Idukki district authorities said, adding that three shutters were raised by 80 centimetres each to discharge 150 cumecs of water.They said it was still drizzling in the region.The Idukki district administration had on Sunday banned all tourism-related activities owing to rains, and multiple minor landslides.At Idamalayar dam in Idukki, the water level was at 163.04 metres while the full reservoir level was at 169.00 metres. There is intermittent moderate rain in the region.Meanwhile, at Mullaperiyar Dam, another major dam in the state which is managed by the Tamil Nadu government, the water level is at 139 feet and six shutters have been opened by 50 cms each while four have been raised by 30 cms each.One shutter of the Banasura Sagar dam in Wayanad was opened on Monday morning to discharge excess water, state Revenue Minister K Rajan said."The authorities have opened the shutter of Banasura Sagar dam by 10 cms and 8.5 cumecs per second of water is being discharged into Kabani river. We expect the water level to rise by 5 cm. Thirty-five cumecs of water will be discharged in various phases after considering the water level. Rest of the shutters will be raised if required," Rajan said.The minister said the water level in the river will rise only in a controlled manner and there was no need to worry. However, he urged the people to remain vigilant.A total of 22 persons lost their lives in various rain-related incidents in the state since July 31. While five people are missing, five others were injured, the State Disaster Management Authority had said.There are 337 active relief camps where 14,611 people are accommodated. The Authority had also said that 46 houses were fully damaged while 19 suffered partial damage.—PTI

Even though rains have subsided in Kerala, various dams across the state continue to discharge excess water on Monday after red alerts have been issued in many of them as the water level has breached the upper rule curve

More dams opened following red alerts in Kerala

Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram:&nbsp;After the heavy rainfall in the catchment areas and the water level rising, the shutters of the Idukki dam were opened at 10 a.m. on Sunday.The shutters were opened after three sound alarms were given at 9.55 a.m., 9.57 a.m. , and 9.59 a.m.One shutter of the dam is now raised to 70 cm to release 50.000 litres of water (about 50 cusecs).It is to be noted that Idukki dam managed by the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) can accommodate 2,403 feet of water and its upper rule curve is 2,383.54 feet,The decision to open the shutter and release water was taken after the water level exceeded the permitted capacity as per the rule curve of the reservoir.State Water Resources Minister Roshy Augustine while speaking to IANS said, "All necessary precautions have been taken and people living in the banks of Cheruthoni town have been given a red alert. However, there is no need to shift people from their residences as of now. The district administration, police, fire, and rescue department are on high alert, but the situation is under total control and even during the floods of 2018, there were not many issues on the release of water from Idukki dam."The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of the possibility of heavy rain in Kerala till August 9. Idukki district administration has already issued a red alert to those living on the banks of the Periyar river.—IANS

After the heavy rainfall in the catchment areas and the water level rising, the shutters of the Idukki dam were opened at 10 a.m. on Sunday.

Kerala's Idukki dam opened after heavy inflows

Thiruvananthapuram: A woman drowned while another was rescued from the Chalakudy river where they fell from a railway bridge after a speeding train blew them off in Kerala's Ernakulam district on Saturday. While one was rescued, 28-year-old Devi Krishna, a local resident drowned. According to eyewitnesses, both the women employeed in a shop near Chalakudy were crossing over the bridge at 9 a.m as the roads were flooded following the heavy rains in the past three days. As they entered the bridge, they realised that a train was coming from the opposite direction so they remained stuck to a side. But due to the speed of the train, the two got blown and fell into the river below.—IANS

A woman drowned while another was rescued from the Chalakudy river where they fell from a railway bridge after a speeding train blew them off in Kerala's Ernakulam district on Saturday. 

 2 women fall off railway bridge in Kerala, 1 drowns

Thiruvananthapuram:&nbsp;Two-time former Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac is unlikely to appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the alleged violations in Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB).Earlier, Isaac had ducked the notice served to him by the probe agency. This time the ED has asked him to appear at its Kochi office on August 11.On Friday, Isaac had confirmed that he has got a notice by the ED, and said that he will talk to legal experts and then decide what needs to be done.Sources close to Isaac said that after talking with the experts, he has decided to send a detailed letter to the ED and if need be, will take the matter before a court of law.The ED has served him the notice to find out the functioning of the KIIFB, which had come under fire from the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.KIIFB was established as the principal funding arm of the government of Kerala in 1999. Its objective is to channelise funds for critical and large public infrastructure projects in Kerala.In Kerala, CAG has become a persona non grata ever since economist turned Isaac, early last year took on the Constitutional body head on, when he was holding office.After slamming the CAG, the Pinarayi Vijayan government passed a resolution against the CAG report (which termed the off-budget borrowings through KIIFB as unconstitutional), with the Congress-led Opposition opposing it.—IANS

Two-time former Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac is unlikely to appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the alleged violations in Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB).

 'Violations' in KIIFB dealings: Thomas Isaac unlikley to appear before ED

Thiruvananthapuram: &nbsp;After tapering off for a day, heavy downpour returned in Kerala on Thursday bringing along landslips, flooding of dams and rivers, taking the rain-related death toll from Sunday to 22.A red alert has been sounded in eight of the 14 districts of the state, while five other districts are under an orange alert. However, the state capital district has no such alert.Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has asked the people living on the banks of water bodies to be extremely cautious. They have been asked to follow the directives of the district authorities and be prepared to move to relief camps if a need arises."Those living in low lying areas in Thrissur and Ernakulam districts and had moved out to relief camps during the 2018 floods, should do so this time as well. Night travel should not be undertaken on the higher ranges of the state. With most of the rivers in spate, none should attempt to cross it and fishing and swimming have been banned. In vulnerable places, residents should ensure they have an emergency kit packed and kept ready," said Vijayan.State Revenue Minister K.Rajan said that all those living on the banks of the Chalakudy river will be shifted to relief camps as it is in spate.The famed Sabarimala temple which opens for a few days during the beginning of the Malayalam calendar has started to restrict devotees, as none will be allowed to go up to the temple located in a hillock after 3 p.m. and none will be allowed to stay in the temple precincts after 6 p.m.State Health Minister Veena George has asked people to be cautious as it's during these times there is a spurt in contagious cases and proper medical help should be availed too.In Ernakulam district, district collector Renu S.Raj announced that educational intuitions in the district will be closed on Thursday at 8.25 a.m but by then, children had already started to arrive in the schools.The IMD forecast which came on Sunday had predicted the rains to subside by Thursday, but things appear to be different.—IANS

 After tapering off for a day, heavy downpour returned in Kerala on Thursday bringing along landslips, flooding of dams and rivers, taking the rain-related death toll from Sunday to 22.