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As heavy rainfalls continue in Kerala, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red warning in eight districts— Kannur, Kasargod, Kottayam, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam, Trissur, and Idukki for Friday, May 30. A red warning indicates rainfall of over 20 cm in 24 hours. All the other districts in the state, including the capital Thiruvananthapuram, have been issued an orange warning.
Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam districts have been warned about heavy rainfall in the next few hours, with almost 60 relief camps opened across Thiruvananthapuram. Approximately 2000 people have been shifted to these camps.
At Vizhinjam, two from a group of fishermen who went to sea are missing after their boat capsized. Three of them swam back to shore. It is also reported that 27 other fishermen who set out to sea in seven boats have not returned to the shore.
A holiday has been declared for educational institutions in nine districts of the state, including Kasargod, Kannur, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Wayanad, and Pathanamthitta.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been deployed in different districts of the state that have been issued a red warning. People in hilly areas have been warned of possible landslides, and the state government has restricted fishermen from going into the sea until June 1.
Kerala has been lashed by heavy rains after a very intense, low-pressure system formed in the Bay of Bengal.
In last night’s rain, more than 100 houses were destroyed throughout the state and over 10 people were injured in accidents caused by trees falling on vehicles. The Kerala State Electricity Board Limited (KSEB) has incurred losses due to trees falling onto electric posts and power lines throughout the state. 2,000 high-tension posts and 16,000 low-tension posts have been damaged.
Trains, including the Jan Shatabdi and Vande Bharat, were delayed after trees fell on railway tracks in a few stretches.
Kasargod also witnessed heavy rainfall. A road in Manjeshwaram was washed away in the rain, and a vehicle on the road was taken away by the floodwater. Over 15 houses have been destroyed due to rain in the district.
In Thavakkara of Kannur district, 30 houses face severe waterlogging.
The IMD says that the state may continue to receive intense rainfall for the next five days.