Idukki district News

One passenger died while 58 others were injured in the accident The KSRTC bus was en route to Munnar from Ernakulam The deceased has been identified as Sanjeevan (33)

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) resumed rescue operations in Idukki`s Rajamala on Monday. The rescue personnel are split into teams so as to widen the search. Following heavy rain, a hillock on the tea plantation at Rajamala, a remote village near Munnar, had come down, burying the estate quarters in the early hours of Friday.

According to the government, 78 people were staying at the spot where the tragedy occurred. While 12 were rescued, 28 bodies were found. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Idukki, Malappuram and Wayanad districts on Sunday. Normal life of people living in low lying areas of Kottayam and Alappuzha has been affected with flood waters entering their homes.

The chief minister announced the preliminary assessment of the loss was totalled at Rs 8,316 crore and said an additional amount of Rs 400 crore has also been requested from the Central government. 

Kerala government will take up with Centre the state's safety concern over rising water level in the Mullaperiyar reservoir.