KOCHI: Heavy rain continued to pound the northern districts of the state on Monday while the southern parts received lighter spells. The central Kerala districts also had good rain.
In Kannur, a youth drowned in a pond while another was missing when the jeep he was driving fell into a river at Iritty. The district administration has sought the assistance of Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala, for search operations.
A red alert was declared in Kannur and Kasargod districts by the IMD for Tuesday and orange alert in Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad. A yellow alert is in place for Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur and Palakkad and Lakshadweep on Tuesday.
The Kannur, Kozhikode, Kasargod and Malappuram district administrations declared a holiday on Tuesday for all educational institutions.
In Kozhikode district, 79 people were shifted to a rehabilitation camp at Keezhariyoor village. In Kasargod, all low-lying areas are under water and some families have been shifted to relief camps. Thirty families were moved from Madhur area alone.
The downpour was continuing in Katla, Kanhangad, Neeleswaram and Cheruvathoor. Wayanad received less rain while Palakkad experienced a good spell. The Kunthipuzha in Mannarkadu has been in spate but the water level in Malampuzha dam is yet to rise significantly
Thrissur witnessed heavy to moderate rain and the coastal areas faced sea erosion. Due to the sinking of a portion of the supporting wall near the Chalakudy rail bridge, the speed of the trains moving from Ernakulam to Thrissur side has been limited to a maximum of 30 km/hour since Sunday morning. Railway officials in Thrissur said that more reinforcements needed to be done for the supporting wall, but work could be taken up in full swing after the rain subsides.
A relief camp was opened in Vadakkumbhagam near Eloor in Ernakulam on Monday for five families whose houses were inundated. Besides, two families were shifted to municipality-owned Asraya Bhavan at Kuzhikandam in view of possible flooding.
In Alappuzha, educational institutions in Kuttanad taluk were given a holiday by the district collector on Tuesday. Low-lying areas in Kottayam and Alappuzha districts are under water and a total of 100 families have been moved to 13 relief camps in Kottayam district alone.
There is only moderate rain in Idukki district and the Idukki dam still does not have sufficient water. Two relief camps were opened in Thiruvalla and Mallappalli taluks in Pathanamthitta district. Some 67 members from 18 families were shifted to these camps. A yellow alert has been declared in the district on Tuesday. Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram districts received light spells of rain.
