Highest recorded rainfall in Neyyattinkara; Four shutters of Neyyar Dam opened

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Heavy rains inundated the capital city and other places in Kerala on Friday. Low-lying areas in the Thiruvananthapuram district were submerged in water. One acre of farmland was washed away in Idukki. Rain wreaked havoc in Pathanamthitta too.

Waterlogging was severe on the railway tracks and low-lying areas. Four shutters of the Neyyar Dam were opened.

Thiruvananthapuram received the heaviest rainfall of this season on Thursday night and Friday morning. It is estimated that 120 to 170 mm of rainfall was received in this time period. Neyyattinkara received the most rainfall (168.8 mm).

A Kuwait Airways plane circled the sky for an hour without being able to see the runway at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport.

Meanwhile, a delay in announcing the holiday for schools in Thiruvananthapuram paved the way for another controversy. The district collector announced the holiday at 6:30 am on Friday morning under Minister Sivankutty’s suggestion. By then, many children had already left for school. Collector Anukumari delayed announcing the holidays as the district was only in a yellow alert, considered less severe. However, even by Thursday night, most of the city roads were waterlogged.

There is a possibility of rain in the state continuing till Monday. On Saturday,an orange alert is issued in Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod districts. A yellow alert has also been issued in Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad and Malappuram districts.