the authorities found the water level in the lake had risen much over the maximum limit and they opened the sluices to the full height thereby flushing the river. Aftermath The destructive flood claimed at least 1,000 lives, many animals and birds, and caused severe damages to the crops and property in Kerala. Most of the areas in the erstwhile Travancore and Cochin states, parts of Malabar region were submerged under the floodwater. In Munnar around 4850 mm of rain fall was reported during the flood and wide spread destruction happened. The old Aluva-Munnar route through Kothamangalam-Kuttampuzha-Mankulam was made unusable due to landslides (although the road was reconstructed till Pooyamkutty), and was completely abandoned, making the tribal village of Edamalakkudy very remote by allowing thick forests to grow in the area. Kundala Valley Railway the narrow gauge railway line at Munnar was completely destroyed by the landslides and flood waters. Official Travancore records says that Aluva- Perumbavoor Road was submerged up to 10 feet of water for the entire stretch. "By early August, thousands of refugees and displaced families were being fed at different relief centres: 4000 at Ambalapuzha, 3000 at Alleppey, 5000 in Kottayam, 3000 in Changanassery, 8000 in Parur and so on," writes Devan T. Raghavaiah, a civil servant deputed by the Madras presidency. This flood is still a fearful memory with the old generation still alive in Kerala - most of them were kids then. "The significance of the flood was such that many old people in Travancore used to anchor their memories in relation to the flood," writes historian Meenu Jacob. Several church buildings were destroyed, which meant that the present-day church records in these churches start from 1924. Reports It is astonishing that the Munnar region, located about 6000 feet above the sea level was also submerged under floodwater- reference from the website of Kerala Government - "As Trichur Town center was planned well, during the flood of 1924 A.D( the biggest flood thrissur have ever seen),the locals of thrissur town went to neighboring places to see the "flood" as per the elders.." - "The flood of 1924 (ME 1099) is said to have ruined the road to Munnar due to the catastrophic landslide at Karinthiri. During the flood in the year 1924 AD (23 July 1924), the route was damaged due to landslides at Karinthiri near Munnar. Since then, the road was not used