Kakkanad waterlogged, Ponmudi closed for tourists, heavy traffic jams; Rain havoc in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The capital city is drenched after receiving nonstop rain in the past 12 hours and it is likely to continue as per reports from IMD. The state will receive heavy rains with thunderstorms and gusty winds of up to 40 kmph. Districts including Ernakulam and Kozhikode will get strong rains in the next three hours.

Moderate rain is also expected in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Thrissur and Malappuram districts. Meanwhile, IMD predicted light rain at isolated places in Palakkad and Kannur districts.

Rain will intensify in Kollam, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta districts in the coming hours. A yellow alert has been announced on Tuesday in six districts from Thiruvananthapuram to Ernakulam.

In the rain wreaked havoc, a 10th standard student drowned in a stream in Ernakulam. The strong rains also caused waterlogging in Kakkanad Info Park. Meanwhile, the Aluva-Edappally road and Sahodaran Ayyapan road got submerged. The water is stuck in the road with no way to escape as the canals have not been cleaned lately. The rain that started in Kochi at 7 am has also resulted in heavy traffic snarls. In some areas, water entered houses while fetid toilet wastes mixed with rain water reached the roads in some places.

The case was no different in Thiruvananthapuram, where waterlogging was reported in several places. The big wall bordering the Neyyattinkara Krishna temple collapsed in the rain; Landslide was reported in Varkala Papanasam; Ponmudi ECO tourism centre was closed.

In Alappuzha, more than two hundred houses in different taluks were inundated by rain yesterday. Two houses were partially destroyed on Monday and relief camps were also opened. The Aruvikkara dam shutter was raised by 90 cm due to inclement weather.

More chances of landslides in the hilly terrains of Kerala are likely. Nearby residents are also warned.