KANNUR: Following heavy rains on Friday, flood water entered Parassinikkadavu Muthappan temple and Aluva Siva temple. The devotees, who were stranded inside the temple, were rescued in rowing boats. Flood water had started entering the temple premises since Thursday morning.

In Kannur district, it has been raining cats and dogs since Friday morning. Bavali river and Valapattanam river overflowed and flashfloods occurred in several places.

Twenty families were evacuated in Kannur’s Kottiyur Chappa hill during the day.

As water entered Aluva Mappuram Siva temple, the day’s routine ‘pujas’ were disrupted. The water level of Periyar river was 1.8 metre above the sea level. There is high presence of slush in the water.

Ahead of 2018 flood, the water level of Periyar river rose three times, when ‘Arattu ceremony’ was held in the presence of huge crowds of devotees who had scrambled up bridge and elevated area to catch a glimpse of Arattu ceremony.

This time the water rose very fast as the shutters of dams had to be opened.