Incessant rain that began on Saturday, continues to lash Kerala throwing normal life out of gear.
At least one person has been killed in the heavy rains and gates of five dams in various parts of the state have been opened, officials said on Sunday. An eight-year girl died in Palakkad when she fell into a water-filled pit near her house.
The rains have been particularly heavy in central and north Kerala, and more is predicted for the coming two days. A holiday has been declared for all educational institutions in the state on Monday.
The heavy rain has pushed up the water level in the Mullaperiyar dam to 126 feet. After shutters of the Neyyar dam was opened on Sundayafternoon, it is likely that shutters of the Peppara dam in Thiruvananthapuram will also be opened anytime.
The district collector has issued an alert for the people living on both the sides of the Karamana river. According to reports, Idukki dam has reached half mark of its full capacity.
Normal train operations had to be stopped for almost two hours on Sunday after a mild landslip occurred near Chingavanam in Kottayam when mud and sand got accumulated on the train track.
A round the clock control room has been opened in Palakkad and the police and the fire force have been pressed into service.
Roads and low-lying areas in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram city have been inundated.
People travelling to the hilly areas and coastal regions have also been asked to be cautious. Night time traffic has been restricted through all hilly tracts from 7 pm to 7 am.
According to the India Meteorological Department here, very heavy rainfall (12-20 cm in 24 hrs) is most likely to occur at one or two places in the state and heavy rainfall (7-11cm in 24 hrs)is most likely to occur at few places in Kerala and Lakshadweep till Monday morning and is most likely to continue at one or two places in Kerala until Tuesday.
A warning for the fishermen has also been issued, cautioning them that strong winds from a southwesterly direction with a speed occasionally reaching 45-55 km/ph is likely along the coast and over Lakshadweep area until Monday afternoon.
PH Kurian, additional chief secretary, Disaster Management, has directed the Tahsildars of Kozhikode, Wayanad, Palakkad, Idukki, Kottayam and Alappuzha to be at Taluk control rooms at night.
KSRTC has been directed to operate more services in the Kottayam Thiruvananthapuram route considering disruption in the rail traffic. Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala has urged United Democratic Front workers to volunteer rescue operations.
Pathanamthitta district received the season's heaviest rain, with 155 centimetres as against the projected 157. Kottayam comes second with 149 centimetres.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has asked the Revenue, Disaster Management and Fire and Rescue Departments to be on high alert.
(With IANS input)