Rain hits normal life in many parts of Kerala, intensity may reduce from Tuesday

The Hindu

7 days ago

Heavy rain threw normal life out of gear in many parts of Kerala, especially in the central and northern parts of the State, for the third consecutive day on Monday, flooding many low-lying areas. However, the rain relented by evening, although isolated brief spells of rain continued to lash many parts.
In the morning, train traffic was disrupted on the Thrissur-Guruvayur route after a tree fell on the railway track near Amala in Thrissur following heavy rain accompanied by gusty wind. The tree fell on the electric line on the railway track, disrupting train traffic along the route for about two hours. Later, the branches were removed and traffic restored.
One missing
A person has gone missing after being swept away by currents in the northern part of the Muvattupuzha river. The person identified as Job, 42, of Vallikada went missing on Sunday night. In Ernakulam, a car overturned on the flyover near Apollo Junction in Kalamassery around 5.15 a.m. following heavy rain. James of Kottayam who was behind the wheel sustained injuries.
A minor landslip occurred on the Ekarool-Kakkayam road in Kozhikode, where construction of the hill highway is under way.
Relief camp
Meanwhile, a relief camp was opened in Devikulam taluk in Idukki and 17 people from four families have been shifted to the camp. This takes the total number of relief camps operational in the State to four, accommodating a total of 64 people. Two dozen houses were destroyed and around 300 damaged in the rain.
Meanwhile, the intensity of rain is likely to reduce on Tuesday with the weakening of the weather system formed over the Arabian Sea. The system persists as a low-pressure area over Marathwada, adjoining the central Maharashtra and neighbourhood, with associated cyclonic circulation. However, a low-pressure area is likely to form over the westcentral and adjoining North Bay of Bengal around Tuesday, according to a weather bulletin issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday.
The IMD has issued a red alert for three districts—Kozhikode, Wayanad and Kannur—and an orange alert for three districts—Thrissur, Malappuram and Wayanad—warning of very heavy rain. Though a red alert is issued for three districts, extreme rainfall is unlikely in these districts. The red alert was issued taking into account the cumulative impact of the rain that lashed the region the previoua day, according to an IMD briefing.
Highest rainfall
Meanwhile, Urumi in Kozhikode recorded the highest rainfall of 21 cm in the 24 hours ending 8.30 a.m. on Monday followed by Ayyankunnu in Kannur (20 cm), Vythiri in Wayanad and Vellathooval in Idukki (19 cm each), and Vadakara in Kozhikode and Taliparamba in Kannur (17 cm each).
The sea has become rough along the coastal belts of the State with tidal waves causing havoc in various regions.