Kozhikode: As the monsoon has intensified in Kerala, widespread damage has been reported in various districts in the state. Heavy rains are continuing. Six people died in the rain-related incidents yesterday alone. A red alert has been declared in 11 districts today, namely Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod districts. An orange alert has been issued in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Alappuzha districts.
Two children, also brothers Nidin Biju (14) and Ivin Biju (10), died after being electrocuted by an electric wire while bathing in a stream in Kodanchery, Thamarassery, yesterday evening. Offset printing employee Vigneswaran (32) from Chennai died after falling into a drain in Kundayithod, Kozhikode, and Pavithran, a scooter rider, died after being hit by a coconut tree in Vilyappally. A worker from Madhya Pradesh, Malathi, died after a tree fell on her in Pampadumpara, Idukki. A student, Sreerag (17), son of Shinoj, a native of Chettipadi, who had gone to distribute newspapers, died after being electrocuted by a broken electric wire in Vallikkunnu, Malappuram.
Three relief camps have been opened in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode districts. Two in Thiruvananthapuram and one in Kozhikode. Forty-seven families are living in the three camps. They include 19 families from Kozhikode district's Manjacheeli, Vilangad, Vadakara, which was hit by a landslide last year.
More than ten houses were damaged by falling trees in various districts. The rise in sea level has intensified in many places, including Alappuzha and Thrikkunnapuzha in the Alappuzha district. A pump house collapsed in a lightning storm in Thrissur’s Arimpur. A tree fell on a running train going from Jamnagar to Thiruvananthapuram yesterday morning in Cheruthuruthy.
Meanwhile, the shutters of the Idukki Malankara Dam were opened without warning. Four shutters of the Bhoothathankettu Dam were opened. People on the banks of the Periyar have been advised to be cautious. Houses and farmlands were flooded in many places.
Cracks have formed in many places where the construction of the national highway is in progress, causing concern. Landslides occurred in several parts of the national highway in Kannur Kuppam.
The Vythiri Fest, which was scheduled to be held in Wayanad until the 31st of this month, has been postponed. A student was injured when a tree branch fell in Sultan Bathery. A 28-member NDRF team has arrived in Wayanad.