Heavy rains continue to wreak havoc in Kerala; three dead, one missing

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala remains battered by relentless heavy rains, with three people dead and one reported missing in Kannur and Idukki districts on Saturday. Fallen trees have blocked traffic in several areas.

A 78-year-old man named Chandran lost his life in Thettummal, Kolayad, Kannur, when a tree collapsed onto his house as he slept. The tragedy happened around 1:30 a.m. His wife, Mathu, and children, Nikhil and Nikhisha, escaped unhurt.

In Puthiyangadi Chootad, strong sea turbulence caused a fibre boat to capsize after hitting a sandbank. Fisherman Salamon Lopez Elise (63), a native of Puthumthura in Kanyakumari, died in the accident. Two others — Selva Antony (53) and Eslen Adimai (50), also from Kanyakumari — sustained serious injuries. In another incident, N.P. Abraham (52) of Payyannur Punchakkad went missing after his small boat met with an accident at the Ramanthali Palakkode estuary.

In Idukki, Leelavathi (60) from Thevaram in Theni, Tamil Nadu, died when a dry tree from an estate fell on her while she was returning from work around 3 p.m. yesterday. Rising water flow forced the authorities to open the shutters of Ponmudi and Kallarkutty dams. Night travel through the Gap Road has been banned for two days.

In Palakkad, 11 houses were partially damaged in various taluks. In Thachambara Kunnamthiruthy, Mannarkkad, two people were injured when a tree fell on their house. Eleven shutters of the Aliyar dam were raised by 12 cm each, while the sluice shutter of Siruvani dam was raised by 10 cm. Three spillway shutters of the Parambikulam dam were also lifted by 10 cm each.

Train traffic disrupted

In Alappuzha, train services were disrupted for nearly four hours after a coconut tree fell onto an electric line near Pathirappally Udaya Gate along the coastal railway line.

Flights diverted

Due to heavy rains, three flights scheduled to land in Kochi were diverted. At 11:15 a.m., an Akasa Air flight from Mumbai was rerouted to Coimbatore. At 11:45 a.m., an Alliance Air flight from Agatti was diverted to Bengaluru, and at 12:50 p.m., an Indigo flight from Mumbai was also diverted to Coimbatore.