THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Widespread rain continues in various districts of the state including the capital. The Central Meteorological Department has informed that there is a possibility of heavy rain at isolated places in Idukki, Ernakulam and Thrissur districts with gusty winds of up to 50 kmph in the next three hours.

According to the Meteorological Department, there is a possibility of moderate rain at isolated places in Alappuzha, Kottayam, Palakkad, Malappuram and Kozhikode districts, strong winds with a speed of up to 40 km per hour and light rain at isolated places in all other districts. The strong winds that lashed the capital last night have uprooted trees in many places. Road traffic was also disrupted.

Widespread damage is being reported in various districts last night due to strong winds and rain. In Kochi, due to unusually fast winds, a tree fell on the track and the rail traffic was disrupted. Following this, the Palaruvi Express and the Eranad Express which was supposed to go via Alappuzha were halted. Train traffic was restored only after the tree was cut and replaced at 7 am.

Strong winds uprooted trees in Alappuzha and fell trees in Purakkad areas. Trees also fell in Haripad, Mannancherry, Pathirapally, Cherthala, Travancore, Chengannur, Mulakuzha and Cheryanadu. Due to this, some houses and vehicles were damaged.

In Kottayam there was extensive damage due to falling trees due to strong winds. A house partially collapsed after a tree fell at Pallam Bukana Pudhuval. The tree fell in Pallam, Puthupally and MG University areas. Vehicles were damaged by a falling tree in Kottayam KSRTC Depot premises and power supply was interrupted by a falling tree in Pathanamthitta Pandalam Cherikkal.

Cyclonic system formed over South East Arabian Sea and Lakshadweep. Another cyclonic system lies over northern Tamil Nadu and southern Andhra Pradesh. A low pressure belt is located at an altitude of 0.9 km from the central eastern Arabian Sea to the Maldives. As a result of this, the Meteorological Department had earlier informed that there is a possibility of widespread rain with thunder and lightning in Kerala for the next five days. Today, orange alert has been issued in Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad districts and yellow alert has been issued in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Kannur and Kasaragod districts.