At least ten people have been reported killed and several injured as heavy rains battered Kerala. The incessant rains in South and Central Kerala have caused flash floods. Landslides have also been reported in Kottayam and Idukki districts. 7 deaths were reported in Koottickal, one death in Kanjirappally. Also, 2 deaths were reported in Thodupuzha.
The weather department has predicted heavy to very heavy rain in Kerala till Sunday morning. The IMD issued a red alert for Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki and Thrissur districts. An Orange alert has been issued for the Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alapuzha, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad districts.
“The situation is really serious in some parts of the state. We will do everything possible to save lives. We have sought help from the army, navy and air force. Relief camps have been set up in the districts,” Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said in a statement.
11 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), two Army and two Defence Service Corps teams have been deployed in Southern and Central parts of the states.
The CMO has issued a cautionary note, urging people to be extremely careful and avoid venturing out. Colleges that were to reopen from October 18 will now open from October 20. The Sabarimala pilgrimage will be avoided till October 19.
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