Ranni taluk marooned as rivers breach banks

Ranni: Incessant downpour has almost submerged the entire Ranni taluk in Pathanamthitta district as the Pampa, Kallar and Kakkattar rivers are overflowing after incessant rain on Sunday night. All low-lying areas along the shores of the three rivers are under water. Karumbanmoozhi and Arayanjilimon areas have been isolated as water filled up the causeway. Fortunately, loss was limited as traders shifted goods in anticipation of floods earlier.

The Karumbanmoozhi, Arayanjilimon, and Mukkam causeways in Pampa river are under water. Karumbanmoozhi and Manakkayam have been marooned. In Arayanjilimon, however, people are able to walk through the hanging bridge.

Traffic has been affected as village roads got inundated as even local streams are also overflowing. Traffic has been crippled on the Punalur-Muvattupuzha road as the Chethonkara area got inundated. Traffic was hit in several other places like Thondikkayam in Maniyar-Mampara road, Neduman in Madhathumoozhi-Puthukada road, Kuthukallungalpadi-Mandiram Thiruvabharana route, Kalayilpadi in Cherukolpuzha-Ranni road, Pulloli in Chettimukku-Valiyakav road and Eettichuvadu.

Nearly 100 shops beside Ittiyappara bus stand were flooded. The Pettah market is waterlogged. River water has touched Ranni-Vennikulam road, flowing through Pettah Upasanakadav road. Five families shifted to safety from Upasanakadav on the shores of Pampa.

Crops are entirely submerged on the river shores. Plantain, tapioca farms etc have been inundated. Farmers are tense because the crops will be destroyed if water stays on for more than two days.

As water levels rose, several wood pieces came floating in Pampa. People were seen picking them up, including precious teak pieces.

Rain-hit Pathanamthitta | In Pictures

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