As the rains in Kerala intensify, the state is grappling with floods in several districts. Visuals and videos coming in from different parts of the state show people and animals being rescued from rising waters. One such video captures a dramatic car rescue from a stream – one that could have gone very wrong.
In the video shot near Thodupuzha in Idukki district, a dark blue car can be seen towed by a truck across the Chappath stream. There are two roads on either side of the stream and there's a bridge over it. The vehicles are tied to one another with a rope, and the driver of the car is seated inside. However, instead of the car being pulled out to the safety of the road, it swirls dangerously in the swollen water and is dragged to the deeper end because of the strong currents. The panicked cries of the onlookers can be heard because the driver is still inside and the car almost sinks in the water completely. Thankfully, in the last minute, the driver manages to open the door and wades to the road safely.
The incident happened on Thursday evening. The rescued man is Binu, who is from Kanjar, Velliyamattom, in Idukki. Due to the heavy rains, the water in the river which flows into the Chappath had increased, causing the stream to overflow. However, not realising this, Binu had tried to get the lorry to tow his car across the stream.
Watch:
In the video, the car can be seen going inside the stream. However, after the water receded, it was successfully towed to the road.
Idukki is among the districts for which the Central Water Commission (CWC) has issued an alert regarding rising water levels in rivers. Other districts which have received a similar warning include Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod.
Heavy rains have wreaked havoc in the north and central parts of Kerala, with the total number of casualties rising to 10, as on Friday morning. However, as per unofficial reports, the death toll has risen to 14. Among them, two people died in a landslide at Pazhassi colony, Wayanad and two died in a flash flood at Kuttiyadi, Kozhikode, as per statistics given by the state disaster control room. Wayanad and Nilambur in Malappuram are the worst affected with landslides reported from Pazhassi colony and Puthumala in Wayanad. According to reports, rescue personnel have not been able to reach Puthumala as the road is inaccessible due to a landslip.
(With inputs from Sandeep)