6 killed in Kerala rains

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 26 (UNI) Six people were killed, many injured and hundreds of houses damaged with standing crops worth crores destroyed as torrential rains under the impact of the North East Monsoon wrecked havoc in Kerala.

Heavy rainfall that lashed the state continuously for the last three days had flooded low-lying areas and forced the people to relief camps in many districts.

One person was killed in Thrissur today when he came in contact with a snapped live electric wire.

Of the other five killed in different incidents till yesterday, one drowned in the Kabani River in Wayanad District and another person died in Malappuram District when he came into contact with a live electric wire. The two other deaths were reported from Palakkad district.

Eight districts were affected, sources said and added that 1,043 people were in 17 camps in Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad districts.

They said seven houses were fully damaged and 82 partially.

Standing crops on 1216.37 hectare of land were damaged with the loss estimated at Rs 4.2 crore.

Meanwhile, the Revenue Ministry had issued directions to all District Collectors to ensure that relief reached the affected people on time.

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