Like every other state in India, Kerala is also reeling under the COVID-19 crisis. As the month of August is predicted to witness heavy rainfall in the state of Kerala, the state's Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has told people to brace for another challenge - a flood. “Even as we fight coronavirus, the threat of another flood looms before us. We must be ready to face that challenge as well,” Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said during this sunset briefing on COVID-19 on Thursday.

For the evacuation of thousands, the Kerala State Disaster Management (KSDMA) has been entrusted with formulating a plan. Volunteers who have registered themselves with the ‘Sannadham’ portal will be roped in and given sufficient training on disaster management and response, said the CM.

Unlike the previous years, this time, if there is an extreme flood, people cannot be camped under one roof as there is a threat of COVID-19 transmission. “The KSDMA has advised that we may require four types of buildings to house people – for general category, for the elderly, for those showing COVID symptoms, for those in the home quarantine,” Vijayan added.

As the dams in the state are not yet full, there is sufficient storage space for the rainwater. Currently, all dams are monitored and there is no requirement to open the shutters, the CM said.