Thiruvananthapuram: At least six persons were killed and many parts of Kerala, including Kochi city, flooded in pre-monsoon showers on Tuesday.
Even as a landslide was reported near Bharananganam in Kottayam district no casualties were reported. Several houses were destroyed almost fully.
While two deaths were reported in Thiruvananthapuram, one death each were reported from Kasargod, Alappuzha, Ernakulam and Kottayam districts. Last week around five persons were killed in rain related incidents in the state.
Kochi witnessed flash floods in the morning following heavy rains for nearly two hours. According to experts, around 98 mm rainfall was received in 90 minutes in Kochi and it could be due to cloud burst. Rain water entered over 200 houses near Kalamassery area. Functioning of many offices including Infopark IT park were affected.
Flooding of roads, including national highways, affected vehicular movement at many parts of the state. Extensive loss to crops were also reported from various places.
In Thiruvananthapuram a fisherman identified as Abraham drowned as a fishing boat capsized owing to rough weather at Muthalapozhi, which is a mishap prone spot. Ashokan, 56, of Aruvikkara on the suburbs of the district drowned. At Perumbavoor near Kochi and Kanhangad in Kasargod two students drowned. They were identified as Eldhose, 15, and Zinan, 14, respectively. At Mavelikkara in Alappuzha a youth identified as Aravind died after a coconut tree uprooted and fell over him. At Vaikom in Kottayam a person identified as Sadananadan died after a boat capsized.
Many parts of Kottayam district were flooded as rivers breached the banks. Kottayam and Idukki district administrations have imposed travel restrictions along the high ranges.
The Indian Meteorological Department had sounded red alerts in Kottayam and Ernakulam districts on Tuesday and orange alerts in three districts. Orange alerts are sounded in four districts in south and central Kerala for Wednesday also.
Published 28 May 2024, 09:22 IST