Kerala rain toll climbs to 15; six missing, 7,674 in relief camps

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala's rain fury continued unabated on Sunday, with six more deaths reported from across the state, taking the toll from the past two days of heavy rainfall to 15. Thirteen people are undergoing treatment for rain-related injuries.

The latest victims have been identified as Rarish (45) of Kaitheri in Kannur, who was found dead on the banks of a stream at Koothuparamba; two-year-old Masin from Kozhikode, who succumbed to injuries after falling into floodwaters at Kappad; fishermen Freemon (26) of Anchuthengu and Antony (60) of Adimalathura, who went missing off Vizhinjam and Muthalapozhi in Thiruvananthapuram; Bhanupriya (40), a resident of Coimbatore, who died after falling into the Palakkuzhi waterfall in Palakkad; and Sreehari (19), a degree student from Karikkad near Manjeri, who was found dead in a temple pond.

Search operations are continuing for three people who went missing at sea off Kollam, Kannur and Thiruvananthapuram. According to the government, six people remain missing across the state.

Heavy rain and rain-related incidents, including uprooted trees, had damaged 323 houses as of Sunday evening. Of these, 30 were completely destroyed while 293 suffered partial damage.

A total of 7,674 people have been shifted to 273 relief camps, with Pathanamthitta and Kottayam accounting for the highest number of evacuees. However, residents have complained about inadequate basic facilities in several camps.

Floodwaters also entered the residence of former MLA P.C. George at Erattupetta. Kuttanad and Upper Kuttanad remain inundated, while water levels have receded in Ranni. Numerous houses are still submerged in Aranmula.

Waterlogging remains severe in several parts of Kottayam town, including Illikkal, Thiruvarppu and Kumarakom, with floodwater entering most houses and shops. Coastal areas have also suffered extensive damage, with several homes destroyed as the sea continued to erode the shoreline.

The India Meteorological Department has forecast continued heavy rainfall across the state.

Yellow alert across Kerala

A yellow alert has been issued for all 14 districts on Monday. Fishing has been prohibited along the Kerala, Karnataka and Lakshadweep coasts.

Educational institutions in Pathanamthitta, Kannur, Kasaragod, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Idukki, Kottayam, Thrissur, Malappuram and Palakkad districts, as well as in Chengannur, Kuttanad, Muvattupuzha and Kothamangalam taluks, have been declared closed for the day.

The HDC and BM examinations scheduled for Tuesday have also been postponed, the State Cooperative Union said. Revised dates will be announced later.