Monsoon rains play havoc; 3 killed, several houses damaged

Thiruvananthapuram, May 29 (UNI) Three people were killed 25 others injured and hundreds of houses damaged as torrential rains under the impact of the southwest monsoon wrecked havoc in Kerala during the past 24 hours.

One person was killed and 25 were injured at Muvattupuzha when a tree fell on a running bus. In another incident, a 14 year old girl was killed at Cherukulam near Vadakara when a tree fell on her.

Another person was killed at Cherayinkiz in Thiruvananthapuram.

More than 350 houses were damaged, some of them completely, in the monsoon rains, sources said. In Thiruvananthapuram, seven houses were destroyed and 114 damaged partially, in Malappuram seven completely and 62 partially, they said.

Four houses were completely destroyed in Alappuzha and 42 partially, while 88 houses were partially damaged in Kollam. As many as 15 houses were destroyed in Kozhikode.

They said about Rs 3.46 crore agricultural crop loss was estimated across the state. The loss at Thiruvananthapuram was 2.63 crore, Kottayam 1.93 crore and Alappuzha 63 lakh.

Reports from various parts of the state said Coastal areas were under threat with the sea invading into the coast at many places.

The coastal areas of Vizhinjam, Poovar and Poonthura in Thiruvananthapuram district were under threat of sea erosion. Many low lying areas in the capital city were inundated.

Sea erosion was also reported from Iringal and Viyyoor in Kozhikode district. The Kozhikode district administration sources said 16 persons were shifted to relief camps from low lying areas of Pasukkadavu. About 53 persons had shifted to their relatives' houses from the Centremukku area, sources said.

The administration today held an emergency meeting of the revenue officers to brief them about the relief operations.

Alappuzha district was partially under water and about 100 families were shifted to relief camps.

The Low lying areas in Ernakulam were inundated and about 100 families from here were also shifted to relief camps. Sea Erosion was reported from Vaipin and Chellanam in the district. Land-slips were also reported from Alakkad in Kannur district.

The Met office here said the southwest monsoon was vigorous over Kerala, with most places receiving heavy rains. Kannur, Karipur, Koilandi and Kodungalur had the maximum rain of 13 cm while it was 11 cm at Kozhikode, Perinthalmanna and Thallssery.

They said Irrikur, Manjeri and Mannarcaud received 10 cm rainfall followed by Thrissur, Chalakudy and Nilambur nine cm.

Eight cm of rainfall was reported at Vadakara and Wadakanchery, while it was seven cm at Kochi, Kottayam, Thodupuzha and Agathi.

The Met office said Kozha, Ameni and Perumbavoor received six cm of rain, while Allappuzha, Kunnamkulam, Chertala received five cm, and the tourist spot of Kumarakom received four cm .

They also warned of isolated heavy to very heavy rains in Kerala and also at a few places in Lakshadweep.

It also warned of strong onshore winds with speeds reaching 45/50 kmph, from the westerly direction.

UNI Team JJ ARB RK2020