Toll at 26 as monsoon rains lashes Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram, June 23: The toll in the torrential rains in Kerala, which continued to wreak havoc, rose to 26 with eight more deaths reported today. Thirty people were injured.

Four-member of a family were buried alive in a landslide today at Valathodu in Wayanad district. One death was reported each from Thrissur, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta and Kollam districts.

About 20 persons were injured when a tree fell over a ward of the General Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram.

As the monsoon continued to be vigorous, the coastal regions and low-lying areas were under the threat of sea erosion and floods.

Reports of erosion caused by the sea came in from many places in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha Kochi and Thrissur and a landslide was reported in Idukki There were also reports of disruption of power supply and traffic blockades from different parts of the state. In some places, the power supply could not be restored.

Yesterday, 18 people were reported killed in rain-related incidents and as many injured. About 8,000 people were shifted to relief camps as coastal and low-lying areas continued to be threatened by sea erosion and floods, sources said.

Water levels were steadily rising in reservoirs of hydro electric projects in the state as catchment areas continued to receive heavy rainfall.

UNI