THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Incessant rains in south-central Kerala have caused huge damage due to landslides and overflowing rivers for the past two days. Four more lives were lost yesterday. Two people went missing in the current. Seven people died in two days. A patient died on the Sabarimala road between Nilakkal and Ilavankal when the traffic was obstructed due to a fallen tree.
Weather experts have warned that there will be more than 200 mm of rain in the next 24 hours. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that if it rains similarly for four consecutive days, there will be a crisis in the state. He asked people to remain cautious. Districts were allotted Rs 1 crore each to deal with the rains.
Three people died at Vennikulam in Pathanamthitta after a car fell into a canal. The deceased are Chandy Mathew of Kumaly and his two daughters Feba Chandy and Blessy Chandy. A fisherman named Kilson (20) from Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu died in Vizhinjam after his boat capsized in a high wave while fishing.
Kannuparampil Riyas (45), a loading worker, went missing in a landslide at Mooppanmala in Enthayar, Kottayam. Reji (52), a salesman of Naranammoozhy Co-operative Bank, who ventured into the Pampa river in Ranni, also went missing.
A car was destroyed in Vellarada after a 15-feet high wall collapsed and fell over it. 50 houses were flooded and around 200 people were stranded in Makki near Vithura. Landslides occurred at four places in Moonnilav and Kootickal panchayats in Kottayam. Mining activities have been banned in various districts. Fishing has been banned for five days.
Holiday for educational institutions in 7 districts
Authorities have declared a holiday for all educational institutions including professional colleges in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam and Idukki districts. There is no change in the public examinations and interviews scheduled earlier in Thiruvananthapuram.
Exams postponed
Examinations under Kerala, MG and Sanskrit University exams scheduled to take place on Tuesday (August 2) have been postponed.