Train services hit in Kerala due to rains; flood alert sounded for nine rivers

Thiruvananthapuram: While train services in Kerala were affected on Tuesday also owing to the heavy rains and winds, flood alerts were sounded in nine rivers across the state.

Several trains including Vande Bharat were delayed after trees fell over railway tracks at Kozhikode for the second consecutive day. In the last two days also trains were affected after trees fell on the track.

There were allegations that despite repeated alerts by the railway authorities, owners of the lands from where trees posed a risk the railway tracks did not act.

IMD sounded red alerts in Kozhikode and Wayanad and orange alerts in nine districts for Wednesday also. Red and orange alerts are sounded in various districts across the state till May 30.

In view of the flood alerts in nine rivers and high tide alerts along the coastal areas, people were being shifted to relief camps. Many low lying parts of the state suffered flooding and extensive damage to houses were reported from across the state. Over 600 houses so far suffered damage in the rains.

Meanwhile, more parts of the NH-66 under construction in Kerala developed damage in the rains. While cracks were found at Mooradu near Vadakara in Kozhikode, pits were formed in rains on the NH in some parts of Kasargod.