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Rainfall across the state led to flash floods and landslides in
several areas, with the Indian army and navy called out to
rescue residents.
Opening dams could reduce the risk of potentially catastrophic
overflows like those partly blamed for the state's worst floods
in a century in 2018, when at least 400 people were killed and
200,000 displaced. But by releasing water downstream, the move
could also worsen the situation in areas already experiencing
floods.
Authorities have already opened smaller dams to prevent
flooding, while state Power Minister K Krishnankutty said in a
statement the Idukki dam, the state's largest, will also be
opened if the rains continue.
At least 13 people were killed by a landslide in Kuttikkal
village, officials and eyewitnesses said.
"There were four landslides that happened there yesterday, the
hill behind me, which brought water and other items downwards,"
a local resident told Reuters partner ANI on Sunday, standing in
front of now-barren hillside.
P.K. Jayasree, the top government official in Kottayam district
where the landslide took place, said almost six of the dead were
from a single family.
Kerala will receive widespread rain, including isolated heavy
rains in many places, for two to three days from October 20, the
state government said on Monday.
(Reporting Jose Devasia in Kochi; Writing by Alasdair Pal;
Editing by Edmund Blair and Peter Graff)
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