Rains to continue late into night in Kerala, 12 people go missing, dead bodies of six found

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Following heavy rains in the southern districts, the Indian Meteorological Department has warned of heavy rains and winds in nine districts in the next three hours in nine districts, including five northern districts.

Thundershowers will develop at Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod districts.

Meanwhile, 12 people are still missing in the state due to landslides. Eight people are yet to be found in Kokkayar in Idukki alone. The bodies of six people were found at the site of the landslide. Four more people are to be found. The search is on for a migrant worker who went missing after being swept away in Amayizhanchan Thodu in Thiruvananthapuram.

The latest information is that eight people have gone missing in the Kokkayar landslide. The missing are Ancy (45), Chirayil Shaji (50), Sachu Shahul (3), son of Shahul in Puthuparambil, Appu and Malu, children of Faisal Nazir of Kallupurakkal, Faisal's sister Fausia and children Ahiyan and Afsana.

Police have recovered the bodies of three people who died in the Kaavali landslide in Koottikkal. The bodies will be shifted to Mundakkayam Hospital. Rescuers were unable to retrieve the three bodies from Plappally. The bodies are covered in mud. Six members of a family were killed in a landslide in Koottikal (Mundakkayam - Kottayam). Martin's family in Ottalangal was involved in the accident. Six people were killed, including Martin's wife and children.

It is reported that there is heavy rain in Vellarikkundi in Kasaragod. Two families were shifted to relatives' houses in Konnakkad due to the risk of landslides. The Cherupuzha-Chittarikkal road is waterlogged in the Ariyiruthi region. Traffic was hindered. A 25-member Union Army will reach Wayanad tomorrow morning from Kannur DSC Centre.

Heavy rains caused extensive damage to crops in the state yesterday and today. 1476 hectares of crops were destroyed. 8779 farmers were affected. The initial loss is estimated at Rs 29 crore.

In Pathanamthitta, houses were flooded in Manimala and Vellavoor. In Vellavoor, about 70 houses were flooded. The Manimala police station was also flooded. Seven camps have been opened in three taluks in Pathanamthitta district. The camps were opened in Adoor, Mallappally and Konni taluks. Two camps were opened in Adoor taluk, four in Mallappally and one in Konni.

Houses flooded in Kottangal in Pathanamthitta. The NDRF team has set out to Kottangal. Rains continue in Kanjirapally Koottikkal area. Thiruvambadi town was flooded but the water receded later. There are 15 relief camps in Kottayam Kanjirapally taluk, five in Meenachil taluk and one in Kottayam. There are 408 members in 138 families in the camps.

The road in Pala Kottaramattom was flooded. Traffic through this route was disrupted. Vehicles are passing through the bypass. Road traffic was restored in the affected area. Landslides have been reported in parts of Theekoyi. The rain is still heavy here.

The forest department said that the Chembra tourist centre in Wayanad is closed due to rain warning. Traffic was disrupted due to floods on the National Highway at Puthuppadi Ingapuzha. Only large vehicles are passing by.

District Collector A Alexander said that the water level in Kuttanad region is likely to rise due to heavy rains in Kottayam and Idukki districts. Arrangements have been made at the Changanassery Municipal Town Hall to accommodate those in the eastern part of Kuttanad Taluk.

The water level in the Mullaperiyar dam reached 130 feet due to heavy rains. The dam receives 8048 cubic feet of water per second. Tamil Nadu only takes 1331 cubic feet of water.