Death Toll Rises to Nine in Kerala Floods as Chief Minister Visits Affected Areas

Malappuram, September 21 (Daily Kiran) : Kerala is grappling with the aftermath of devastating floods that have claimed nine lives, prompting Chief Minister VD Satheesan to visit the affected areas on September 21. The Chief Minister arrived at Karipur International Airport around 2:30 PM, traveling from Thiruvananthapuram to pay his respects to the victims in the Malappuram districts of Vandoor and Nilambur.

The death toll rose after three more bodies were recovered from the Kottapuzha River in Nilambur, following flash floods that have already resulted in five fatalities. Search operations are ongoing for a missing person in the region. Additionally, two deaths each were reported in Idukki and Kottayam due to rain-related incidents.

Opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan expressed his condolences over the casualties, emphasizing solidarity with the bereaved families. He criticized the United Democratic Front (UDF) government for neglecting disaster victims, despite the frequent natural calamities affecting the state.

Vijayan highlighted that the emergency financial aid announced for flood victims in Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Pathanamthitta districts has not yet been fully distributed. He noted that the government had pledged an immediate relief amount of ₹10,000, but the process for collecting details of disaster victims in Kottayam remains incomplete. Furthermore, he pointed out that the government has not yet begun accepting applications for assistance for those who lost their jobs due to the floods.

He called for an end to the government’s practice of making promises at disaster sites and insisted that aid be delivered promptly to all eligible victims.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) clarified that the recent floods and landslides were not caused by cloudbursts. Neetha K. Gopal, director of IMD Thiruvananthapuram, explained that the intense rainfall in short periods led to a sudden rise in water levels.

The weather department has issued warnings for similar heavy rainfall in limited areas in the coming days, advising residents and local authorities to remain vigilant, especially in hilly regions.