With heavy rainfall wreaking havoc across Kerala, at least four people were killed in different parts of the state. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday issued an orange alert in seven districts.
Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad were put under orange alert. Yellow alert was issued for the remaining seven districts -- Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Kannur and Kasaragod.
Incessant rain since Wednesday evening continued on Thursday morning, inundating several low-lying areas in Ernakulam and Thrissur disctricts. In the Cochin city corporation limits, Infopark, Kalamassery, Vyttila, Kadavanthra, South Chittor, MG Road and KSRTC bus stand reported severe waterlogging and damage to vehicles.
In Thrissur, the Guruvayoor Temple premises were inundated. Drainage water also entered Thrissur's Ashwini Hospital, with medicines getting spoiled and a refrigerator getting damaged. The casualty unit was shifted upwards after the water reached knee level. In Kozhikode, the Institute of Maternal and Child Health ward of the government medical college saw water entering the building for the first time in 50 years.
In Idukki, four shutters of the Malankara Dam were opened. Peopel staying near the banks of Thodupuzha and Muvattupuzha rivers have been issued warning.
A landslide was reported in Kozhikode's Ramanattukara and service road of the national highway in Pantheerankavu was damaged.
In the neighbouring Tamil Nadu, trains on the Mettupalayam-Ooty route were cancelled due to landslides.
The Met department predicted that rain might continue for three more days with heavy rain expected in central and northern Kerala.
