Kerala battered by intense rains; trees uprooted, one killed

Heavy monsoon rains battered Kerala on Sunday causing widespread damage as houses were inundated lowlying areas flooded and agricultural lands ruined with trees uprooted across the state including one that crashed onto a moving train in ThrissurOfficials said that a man was killed when an uprooted tree fell on him while he was riding a scooter in Villyappally KozhikodeIn another incident two teenage siblings were electrocuted by snapped wires after a tree fell onto an electric post while they were fishing in a stream in Kodanchery in the same district they saidIn view of predictions of intense downpours to continue a holiday was declared for educational institutions in 9 districts of the state including Malappuram Kozhikode Pathanamthitta Kannur Kasaragod Thrissur Wayanad Kottayam and IdukkiA large number of houses and vehicles were damaged rivers were in spate and shutters of some dams were raised in the state as the southwest monsoon gained strengthAt least 40 houses were partially damaged and four were completely destroyed in the northern Palakkad districtOver 30 houses were flooded and torrential rains caused waterlogging in Chentrappinni in Thrissur districtSeveral families were shifted to safer locations in Padinjarathara in Wayanad as flood water entered their houses due to alleged unscientific sand removal in connection with the construction of a canal in the areaA 28member NDRF team reached Wayanad as rains intensified authorities saidAcres of agricultural land including rubber plantations were destroyed in Thodupuzha in the hill district of IdukkiEarlier in the day an uprooted tree crashed onto a moving train near the railway bridge in Cheruthuruthy in Thrissur district on Sunday morningTragedy was averted as the loco pilot acted swiftly to stop the train authorities said adding that no casualties were reported in the incidentAs the heavy downpour continued the Indian Meteorological Department IMD placed five northern districts mdash Malappuram Kozhikode Wayanad Kannur and Kasaragod mdash under a red alert for the day predicting extremely heavy rainfall thereWater levels in the Punnapuzha River flowing through the ChooralmalaMundakkai region in Wayanad and the Korapuzha River in Kozhikode were steadily rising following incessant rainfall residents saidFive shutters of the Malankara dam in Idukki district were raised on Sunday morning to release excess water according to an official statementResidents living along the banks of the Thodupuzha and Moovattupuzha rivers were advised to exercise caution following the dams water releaseTragedy was averted in the heart of Kollam city when a huge flex board erected by the roadside fell locals saidA house and vehicles were damaged after uprooted trees fell on them in Kunnathunad and Munambam Harbour respectively in Ernakulam districtAn incident of a mudslide was reported in Kuppam in northern Kannur district following continuous rainsDue to the inclement weather forest authorities on Sunday banned tourists from entering the ecotourism centre in PonmudiA zonal review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan scheduled to be held in Kannur on May 26 was postponed due to heavy rains a CMO source saidMeanwhile the IMD issued an orange alert on Sunday for Thiruvananthapuram Kollam Pathanamthitta Alappuzha Kottayam Idukki Ernakulam Thrissur and Palakkad districtsA red alert indicates extremely heavy rainfall of over 20 cm in 24 hours while an orange alert means very heavy rainfall between 11 cm and 20 cmThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoeveratOptionskeyd0ddb8ef8f1a62a8cdd22fac27fc5ea7formatiframeheight90width728params