Thiruvananthapuram : Deep depression in Arabian sea triggered torrential rains across the state causing widespread devastation. Sea stormed onto coasts of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram and Kozhikode leaving huge destruction in its wake. Thousands of houses in these districts have been flooded.
3 houses in Kollam and Alappuzha panchayats were completely wrecked. Several low lying areas remain submerged under water. Houses in Thiruvananthapuram at Pozhiyoor, Anchuthengu, Poonthura and Valliyathura were flooded. Sea storms lashed shores at Chellanam and Vypin in Ernakulam.
Owing to turbulence at deep seas, 3 Sri Lankan ships including barges were anchored at port in Kollam. Disaster relief camps were opened widely across the state.
Cyclone “Tauktae” Will Take Form Today
According to weather forecast, the depression that formed earlier over southeast Arabian Sea has concentrated into deep depression and will intensify into cyclonic storm “Tauktae” by noon today. The deep depression is currently located 310 km off Kannur coast. Upon turning into cyclone, winds are expected to gust speeds up to 100 km per hour and travel north, then north-west before reaching Gujarat by Tuesday.
Although the cyclone will not travel through Kerala, by virtue of its close proximity to shoreline here, the state will experience heavy downpours and high winds along with rough seas up to Sunday.
