Thiruvananthapuram: Heavy rain continued to wreak havoc in various parts of Kerala leaving people in panic. As the water level in the Periyar river continued to rise, Aluva Maha Deva temple was submerged on Tuesday morning. In the visuals aired on Manorama News, the temple and its premises were seen completely flooded. Some devotees were reportedly stuck in the temple.
According to the India Meteorological Department, heavy rain will continue in the state, especially in northern regions, till July 19. An orange alert is sounded for five districts -- Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasragod -- on Tuesday. A yellow alert has been issued for seven districts -- Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Palakkad.
Trees were uprooted and houses damaged in several areas as rain accompanied by gusty winds lashed across the state. Traffic was disrupted and power lines were snapped in areas that received heavy rain. In Alappuzha's Kainakari, the roofs of three houses were damaged in the rain accompanied by strong winds.
In Kozhikode, heavy rain is continuing in hilly areas including Nadapuram, Mavoor and Kuttiyadi. In Nadapuram, a two-storeyed house owned by Vimala collapsed in the rain. No casualties were reported as the house was unoccupied. Wells were caved in at two houses in Thengilakadavu and Kanniparamba areas of Mavoor. Mudslide is also reported in the Karuvarakundu region of the district. Traffic was disrupted on Thamarassery and Kuttiyadi ghat roads after trees were uprooted blocking the road. Several houses suffered partial damage in the rural areas of northern Kozhikode including Onchiyam, Kottur and Payyoli, among others. In Pathanamthitta, over 20 houses were damaged due to strong wind that uprooted many trees.
As per the IMD alert, strong wind with speeds reaching up to 30-40 kmph, gusting to 50 kmph, is likely to prevail occasionally over Kerala from 15th to 17th July 2024.
Heavy rain has been causing destruction across the state since Monday. In Kottayam district, fallen trees damaged houses and vehicles on Monday. Traffic was disrupted for hours on KK Road in Kanjikuzhi as a huge tree fell on the road in front of the State Housing Board office on Monday night.
The district administration in Pathanamthitta urged people living in the catchment area of Moozhiyar Dam to maintain extra vigil as the reservoir shutters were raised. The Kerala Disaster Management Authority warned that waterlogging on major roads and poor visibility of vehicles may lead to traffic congestion. Flooding in many parts of low-lying areas and river banks and uprooting of trees may snap power lines too, the agency added.
Idukki district authority has banned night travel in the district in view of the bad weather. As per the order, people are restricted from travelling from 7 pm to 6 am. The tourists have been warned against venturing into waterfalls on either side of roads in the district. The restrictions have been imposed as per relevant sections of the Disaster Management Act.
