Four killed in Kerala as rains wreak havoc

Kozhikode/ Thiruvananthapuram: Three people in Malabar and one in the state capital died in rain-related incidents on Saturday. Kurukkilkandi Khadeeja, 60, a native of Chaliyam, Kozhikode, died when a coconut tree fell on her by noon.  At Kanhangad, a four-year-old girl, Fathima Sainaba, drowned after slipping into a water-filled pit.  At Adhoor in Kasargod Cheniya Naik drowned while crossing a stream.   A huge flex board came down in the strong wind in Kannur, damaging many vehicles.   

A woman got killed, and two others injured after trees uprooted at various locations during heavy winds that accompanied rain in the capital. Deepa, 45, of Sree Deepam, Angodu, Perumkadavila, was chatting with her neighbour Ganga, 20, in front of her house when a tree uprooted and fell on them by 1.45 am. The power supply was interrupted across the district for hours. The water supply also was hit, including at the Aruvikkara water treatment plant. At Keezhattingal eight-year-old Vandana was injured after being hit by a tree. A fisherman had a narrow escape when a coconut tree fell on his house at Valiyathura.

Trees were uprooted in front of Raj Bhavan and locations like PTP Nagar, Peroorkada, Enikkara, Chalakuzhy, Thozhuvancode and Technopark. Traffic was hindered at Mannanthala on MC Road and near Al-Saj convention centre at Kazhakoottam as trees uprooted.  Trees also uprooted at a hairpin curve on Ponmudi road. Several trees uprooted at Attingal, Chirayinkeezhu, Aryancode and Neyyattinkara areas.  Mets have forecast the rough weather with heavy showers until Monday. Fishers have been warned against venturing into the sea.  Losses to crops and property cannot be computed until Monday, officials said.