THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Meteorological Department director K Santhosh said the state will experience strong rainfall over the next 24 hours as the low pressure in the Bay of Bengal has strengthened. There will be widespread rainfall over the next three days. He added that from the third day onwards, the strength of the rain will decrease. As part of climate change, there will be strong rainfall in the next season also, he said.

With several parts of Kerala receiving downpour since Tuesday night, many low lying areas have been waterlogged, even as the toll in the rain-battered state has gone up to 101 so far.

As squally weather is likely to prevail over the state, fishermen have been advised not to put out to sea.

In nearby Vizhinjam, a fisherman was drowned and three others were rescued when their fishing craft capsized.

Taking into account the heavy rain forecast, educational institutions in 11 districts have declared holiday on Wednesday.

Over 1.89 lakh people, who were displaced by the floods and landslides have taken refuge in 1,118 camps, the figures said adding 1,057 houses had been completely damaged and 11,159 partially destroyed in the deluge across the state.

Despite inclement weather, search operations are still continuing at Kavalappara, where a series of landslides had wiped out an entire village, to trace those who were suspected to have gone missing.

The search was halted for some time this morning as it started raining, authorities said.

Thirteen earth-movers and 500 odd rescue personnel were engaged in search operations at Puthumala in Wayanad, where another landslide had caused havoc, special officer, U V Jose, said.

Mud and boulders from the hill had washed out an entire settlement in the valley below covering it with 15 feet mud and slush.

Sniffer dogs have been pressed into service and Geographic Information System (GIS) team is expected to reach the area, Jose said.