Thiruvananthapuram : There were at least ten house collapses in State during intense rains witnessed through Sunday. Two houses collapsed under uprooted trees in Ernakulam, five in Alappuzha, three in Kozhikode and two in Edacheri. On Saturday, Sunday, 30.18 acres of crop land were devastated and preliminary estimates put losses at Rs 45.88 lakhs.
A disaster relief camp has been opened in Kochi and is currently sheltering 39 evacuee families. A large tree along Vypin - Munambam highway fell uprooted causing considerable traffic blockade there. Low lying areas in the city are water-logged.
In Thrissur, 20 houses became flooded, the residents of which were shifted to newly-started relief camp in Kodakkara LP School. Paddy storage in Alappuzha’s Upper Kuttanaad has been has been badly hit. All shutters at Thotapally Spillway and Thaneermukam Bund are opened. Water flows in 100-meter radius in Thottapally now.
The State witnessed record rainfall beginning Satruday morning up to early Sunday with roughly 52 mm rains experienced across districts. Aluva saw the highest share of rainfall in 24 hours recording 226 mm followed by Kozhikode 200mm and Thrprayar 190 mm. Over 100 mm rains were recorded across 39 rain stations. More than 115 mm rainfall was recorded in Wayanad in two weeks time. 326.8 mm rains precipitated in the State starting 1 March till the 15th.
Districts On Rain Alerts
The Indian Meteorology Dept(IMD) has forecast heavy rains on Monday for Thrissur, Ernaku,am, Idukki, Thrissur, Kozhikode and Kannur. The districts are on Red Alert and are expected to receive about 204.5 mm rains in the next 24 hours. Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, alappuzha, Malappuram, Wayanad and Kasaragod are put on Orange Alert. Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad received Yellow Alert. With westerly winds gaining intense momentum, the State is expected to have severe rains and high winds for next five days. The State disaster authority has forbade fishermen from taking to seas.
