Kerala Floods: PSC Exams Postponed Due to Continuing Adverse Weather Conditions

Thiruvananthapuram: Heavy rain continued across Keralam for the third consecutive day, triggering landslides and widespread flooding in several parts of the state. The Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) has postponed examinations scheduled for August 4, 5, 6 and 10 due to the continuing adverse weather conditions.

Both written and online examinations scheduled on these dates have been postponed. The revised dates will be announced later. Educational institutions in several districts have also been declared closed on Tuesday.

Chief Minister V D Satheesan said that 15 people had died and seven others were missing in rain-related incidents across the state.

A major disaster was narrowly averted after a powerful landslide occurred at Panakkad in Malappuram. Local residents alleged that extensive soil extraction, hill levelling and other unauthorised construction activities had contributed to the incident.

As heavy rain continued, water levels began rising in Kuttanad in Alappuzha district. Several people were shifted to safer locations from flood-affected areas, while residents of inundated houses were moved to relief camps.

The overflowing Pamba river inundated low-lying areas in Chengannur. Water entered houses in Mulakuzha Thulakuzhi, Thiruvanvandoor Nannad, Eramallikkara and Madavan. Traffic was disrupted on the Pravinkoodu–Thiruvanvandoor road due to waterlogging.

Several areas in Pathanamthitta district continued to remain waterlogged. Heavy rain and landslides caused extensive damage in Konni. Although floodwaters receded in Ranni following a flash flood, commercial establishments suffered major losses.

Waterlogging and hardship continued in Aranmula. The Vallasadya at the Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple, scheduled for the next two days, was postponed due to the possibility of further flash floods. Those who had made advance bookings will be informed of the revised dates later.

Thousands of acres of crops cultivated for the Onam market were destroyed in the extremely heavy rain that has continued for three days. Railway underpasses in Thiruvalla were submerged after rivers overflowed.

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have arrived in Kottayam to assist with disaster management and rescue operations. A 23-member team from Thrissur has been deployed in the Meenachil and Kanjirappally taluks, while a 30-member team from Ernakulam has been deployed in Kottayam taluk. Twenty personnel from the Kerala Police Rapid Response and Rescue Force have also joined the Thrissur-based team. NDRF teams began operations in both areas on Monday.

Flash floods also caused widespread damage in Mallappally taluk. Traffic on the Kottayam–Kozhencherry state highway was disrupted after water flooded the road.

Flash floods began affecting several parts of Kerala in the early hours of Saturday, August 1. Low-lying areas across central Kerala, including Pala, Erattupetta and Ranni, were inundated. Extremely heavy rain has continued across northern and central Kerala for the past three days.

The India Meteorological Department had warned as early as July 31 about the possibility of flash floods and landslides in Keralam. However, the state government had maintained that it had not received any warnings.

The weather report had warned of possible landslides, mudslides and flash floods due to heavy rain, as well as waterlogging and flooding in low-lying areas. The government’s failure to act on these warnings was a major reason for the hardship currently being faced by the state, critics alleged.