In 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 Idukki
Officials said that a man was killed when an uprooted tree fell on him while he was riding a scooter in Villyappally, Kozhikode. Representational Pic/File
Heavy monsoon rains battered Kerala on Sunday, causing widespread damage as houses were inundated, low-lying areas flooded, and agricultural lands ruined, with trees uprooted across the state, including one that crashed onto a moving train in Thrissur.
Officials said that a man was killed when an uprooted tree fell on him while he was riding a scooter in Villyappally, Kozhikode.
In 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 said.
In 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 Idukki.
A 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 strength.
At least 40 houses were partially damaged, and four were completely destroyed in the northern Palakkad district.
Over 30 houses were flooded, and torrential rains caused waterlogging in Chentrappinni in Thrissur district.
Several 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 area.
A 28-member NDRF team reached Wayanad as rains intensified, authorities said.
Acres of agricultural land, including rubber plantations, were destroyed in Thodupuzha in the hill district of Idukki.
Earlier in the day, an uprooted tree crashed onto a moving train near the railway bridge in Cheruthuruthy in Thrissur district on Sunday morning.
Tragedy was averted as the loco pilot acted swiftly to stop the train, authorities said, adding that no casualties were reported in the incident.
As the heavy downpour continued, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) placed five northern districts — Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod — under a 'red alert' for the day, predicting extremely heavy rainfall there.
Water levels in the Punnapuzha River, flowing through the Chooralmala-Mundakkai region in Wayanad, and the Korapuzha River in Kozhikode were steadily rising following incessant rainfall, residents said.
Five shutters of the Malankara dam in Idukki district were raised on Sunday morning to release excess water, according to an official statement.
Residents living along the banks of the Thodupuzha and Moovattupuzha rivers were advised to exercise caution following the dam's water release.
Tragedy was averted in the heart of Kollam city when a huge flex board, erected by the roadside, fell, locals said.
A house and vehicles were damaged after uprooted trees fell on them in Kunnathunad and Munambam Harbour, respectively, in Ernakulam district.
An incident of a mudslide was reported in Kuppam in northern Kannur district following continuous rains.
Due to the inclement weather, forest authorities on Sunday banned tourists from entering the ecotourism centre in Ponmudi.
A 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 said.
Meanwhile, the IMD issued an "orange alert" on Sunday for Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, and Palakkad districts.
A '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 cm.
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