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Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 19 (IANS) With the onset of northeast monsoon, Kerala is battling heavy rainfall, causing floods, landslides and widespread damage in many areas.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that heavy rains are likely to continue till Wednesday due to the low pressure area over the Arabian Sea.
The IMD on Sunday issued an orange alert for five northern districts – Idukki, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod, while most other districts except Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Alappuzha are under yellow alert.
Authorities have put disaster management teams on high alert in sensitive areas.
In Idukki district, one person lost his life in Kumily due to heavy rains, where Thankachan, a resident of Parapalli House, died after his two-wheeler skidded on a slippery road at Vellaramakunnu on Saturday night. According to local people, their vehicle collided with a mound of mud formed after the landslide.
Isolated landslides were reported in other parts of Idukki, blocking roads in Pathumuri in Vellaramakunnu. A resident said, “Around midnight, a huge pile of mud slipped on the road. We fear more such incidents if the rains continue.”
Kumily recorded extremely heavy rainfall on Saturday night, leaving many shops and low-lying areas flooded. Rivers are in spate in the district after 13 spillway shutters of Mullaperiyar dam were opened to release excess water.
Officials said the water level at the dam was 139.20 feet, with 8,838 cubic feet per second (cusec) of water released.
In Malappuram, roads were inundated by torrential rains and around 50 houses were inundated in Vazhikkadavu. Traffic was disrupted for more than an hour at Manimoola on the Gudalur-Kozhikode road.
Flooding was also reported from Randampadam, Modapoyka and surrounding areas.
Locals said the floods occurred after the Karakodan, Kalakkan and Athithode rivers were in spate.
In Kochi, roads around the South Railway Station were flooded after overnight rain. However, by morning the situation started to ease as the rain weakened and the water started receding.
Officials have urged the public to remain vigilant, avoid mountainous areas and follow safety advice as heavy rain is expected to continue over the next few days.
–IANS
AL/DPB