Heavy Monsoon Rains Trigger Alerts in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala continued to receive heavy rainfall following the onset of monsoon with a red alert being sounded in three districts.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has sounded a red alert in Malappuram, Thrissur and Kozhikode districts and orange alert in Idukki, Palakkad and Wayanad districts. Besides, yellow alert has been sounded in Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Kannur and Kasaragod districts respectively.

Heavy rains continued in Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Thrissur districts. With rainfall likely to intensify in the coming hours, the authorities have urged people to remain vigilant.

Revenue Minister K Rajan said control rooms have been opened in all taluks of the state. Revenue officials have been instructed not to take leave until the rains subside and not to leave their stations unless necessary.

Two people were killed in lightning strikes in Thrissur district. The deceased have been identified as Nimisha,42 and Ganesan, 50.

Ganeshan was struck by lightning near an engineering college at Velur at around 11.30 am. Though he was rushed to a nearby hospital his life could not be saved.

Nimisha was struck by lightning at around 10.30 am outside her house in Triprayar. She was found lying near a bathroom outside her house.

She was immediately taken to a hospital where she succumbed.