Kerala floods: CM Chandy to visit Idukki to review situation

Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will visit Idukki district this morning to make an on-the-spot assessment of the flood situation.

Minister for Water Resources P.J. Joseph and Electricity Minister Aryadan Mohammed are already overseeing relief operations in the district.

Chandy has convened an all-party meeting here last evening to discuss the flood situation in the State.

Meanwhile a 60 member team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and a 40 member naval team has reached Adimali in Idukki district. They will be assisted by a 150 member team of the state police.

At least fifteen persons have lost their lives in rain related incidents in Idukki district on Monday while landslides have also been reported from several places in the district.

Ernakulam, Kottayam and Pathananthitta districts also have been badly affected by incessant rains.

Several rivers in the State, including Periyar and its tributaries are in spate and several places have been inundated.

Flight operations in Kochi International Airport have been badly affected due to water logging on the runway. A number of flights were diverted to other airports.