1 killed in Kerala rain, train services disrupted

Heavy rain lashed parts of Kerala’s southern districts on Tuesday, with flash floods hitting Thiruvananthapuram and coastal areas of Kollam and Alappuzha reporting severe damage to houses and roads.

A 74-year-old man, George, died in Nalanchira in Thiruvananthapuram after he came in contact with a live wire.

The India Meteorological Department has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall in parts of the state till Thursday.

At the Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station, flooding of tracks led to delay in train services. The district administration, in a morning announcement, declared holiday for schools.

Sluices in the Aruvikkara, Neyyar and Peppara dams were opened.

Waterlogging was reported from many parts of the city.

Rivers in spate, minor landslips and traffic disruptions marked the day in the northern districts.

Thiruvananthapuram city and Nedumangad in Thiruvananthapuram district recorded 9 cm rainfall.

Very heavy rainfall was reported from Piravom in Ernakulam district (17 cm), Mankombu and Chengannur, both in Alappuzha district (13 cm and 12 cm respectively).

IDUKKI SITUATION:

Water level in the Idukki reservoir inched up to 2395.58 ft at 6 pm, as against a full reservoir level of 2403 ft.

An orange alert was issued on Monday amid reports of a possible trial run ahead of opening sluices in the Cheruthoni dam which has spillways of the reservoir.

On Tuesday, Water Resources Minister Mathew T. Thomas said a trial run was not in the immediate plan.

“In 17 hours, the water level has risen only 0.44 ft. This is not a situation that calls for alarm. The district administration is already working on measures to be taken if the water level maintains or exceeds this rate of increase,” the minister told reporters.

The Met Centre in Thiruvananthapuram has issued an alert to fishermen in the wake of forecast of strong winds along and off the Kerala coast and over Lakshadweep.

Fishermen in the state are preparing to return to the sea on Wednesday after the annual monsoon-period ban on trawling.