Rain fury causes massive damage in Kerala’s Idukki
(This news item cited in part here appeared in The Hindu dated October 19.)
Water level in Mullaperiyar dam rises overnight, prompting Tamil Nadu. to open all 13 shutters; flash floods and landslips were reported at many places; rescue operations save people trapped inside houses
IDUKKI
The high-range villages of the hill district of Kerala’s Idukki witnessed extremely heavy rainfall on Friday night and Saturday morning, causing widespread damage. The water level rose by nearly 6 ft in the Mullaperiyar dam, prompting Tamil Nadu to open all 13 shutters.
The rain that began on Friday night caused flash floods, landslips, and mudslides in Kumily, Chakkupallam, Vandanmedu, Karunapuram, and Nedumkandam panchayats, as well as the Kattappana municipality.
Heavy rain flooded many shops and houses in the district, including at Cumbummettu, Balagram, Thookkupalam, Kumily, Balanpillai City, and Koottar. A reported landslip at Puttady, near Puliyanmala, disrupted traffic on the Kumily-Munnar route. Widespread damage was reported from Kunthalampara, near Kattappana, following a landslip.
On Friday night, the Kottarakkara-Dindigul National Highway was inundated at Kumily. A four-member family trapped in a waterlogged house at Kumily was rescued after significant efforts. At Mundiyeruma in Nedumkandam, local people rescued another family trapped in a waterlogged house.
Five vehicles, including a parked one, were washed away at Koottar, near Nedumkandam, after the water level rose in the Koottar river. A bridge was also damaged in the area.
(Part news item taken from The Hindu dated October 19th.)
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To understand the Hindu article above, do the following things first.
- In Google, see the map of India and the map of Kerala. See how small is the state. Yet, it is unique in the following areas,
2. It has 100% literacy rate which means everyone in Kerala is literate, who has gone to school. The literacy rate of states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh etc. varies from 63% to 69%,
3. People belonging to Hindu religion, Islam, and Christianity live here in complete harmony. Communal violence is unknown here, unlike states like U.P, Bihar, M.P etc.
4. Nurses from Kderala work throughout India and abrozad. They are famous for their skill, dutifulness, and dedication to work.
5. Women of Kerala are very conscious about their rights. They resist exploitation by men. They know the law that protects them.
6. Kerala attracts tourists from other parts of India and from abroad in large numbers. Its beaches and backwaters are very scenic. The local people aremore than friendly towards outsiders. Many tourists from abroad come to Kerala every year, because they love this place very much.
7. Kerala is famous for its expertise in Ayurveda, Yoga and other types of cures based on nature. This is one major attraction for tourists.
8. Kerala sends scores of skilled workers to work in Gulf countries, and Europe. They send copious amounts of money to their homes through foreign currencies. Such huge flow of foreign exchange boosts India’s foreign exchange reserves.
9. Most importantly, Kerala produces writers, poets, film directors, and film producers who win national and international awards from time to time.
10. Kerala is the first state of India to be officially declared as ‘Freeof Extreme Poverty’.
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Questions for readers ..
1st part … (Refer Google when needed.)
1. What is the language of Kerala?
2. What is the capital of Kerala?
3. Name these sons and daughters of Kerala…
4. Name at least four authors (both men and women) who have received national and international awards
5. Nameat least two film directors whose fils have received global awards. Name the films.
6. Name at least two public figures from Keralawho rose to the top in Indian government in different capacities.
7. What is ‘Poverty Line’?
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- Where is Idukku district?
- What are the main crops of Kerala?
- When and where the South-West monsoon enters India?
- Where is ISRO’s main office?
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New words used in the article and the sentences using them….
Fury .. (Means anger) ,,as noun .. Seeing the fury in my father’s face, I became nervous and went to our backyard to hide myself.
Furious .. as adjective .. The MLA became furious on seeing that the Tahsildar had not opened his office till 11m, when the office starts at 10am.
Witness as noun .. The defense lawyer ross examined the three witnesses produced by the prosecution lawyer.
Witness as verb .. Villagers gathered to see the Suravi ceremony in the village school.
Mudslide .. as noun.. Whenever heavy rains fall on rocks or big heaps of soil, huge quantities of soil get separated and rush down. Such a thing causes great danger to the lives of people nearby. This is called mudslide.
Trap as noun.. The forest department people laid a trap to catch the tiger.
Trap as verb.. The police were travelling in th bus in plain clothes. When the burglar boarded it, they trapped him, and out a handcuff on him.
Kumily, Chakkupallam, Vandanmedu, Karunapuram, and Nedumkandam Cumbummettu, Balagram, Thookkupalam, Kumily, Balanpillai City, and Koottar .. These are the names of different places affected by the copious rain These are nouns.
Brim as noun.. If you have to carry the water bucket to a distance, don’t fill it to its brim. Wter will spill, if it is filled like this.
Brim as verb .. After reading this post in the blog, readers will brim with confidence whenever they face questions on Kerala.
Prompt .. as verb .. The surge in my body temperature prompted my mother to take me to the doctor.
Prompt .. as noun.. Without secret prompts from my friend, I could not have done my role as Hanuman on the stage.
Overnight .. I memorized three complete history lessons overnight and got ready to go to the examination with brimming confidence.
Widespread .. The recent police recruitment scam in Odisha has caused widespread anger against the government.
Flash .. as noun .. The flsh of the lightening made the whole area lighted for a few seconds.
Flash as verb .. When asked by the police to prove his identity, my friend flashed his Adhar Card.
Flash as adjective .. Heavy rainfall caused the flash floods in Idduki in Kerala.
Rescue … as noun. The swimmer rescued the drowning child fom the flooded river.
Resue …. as verb The police came to the rescue of the house owner who was fighting the burglar.
Rescue as adjective .. Helicopters are often used in rescue operations.
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(Answers will be posted soon.)