Heavy to very heavy rain disrupted traffic and damaged many houses in different parts of the State on Saturday.
As many as six inbound flights from Gulf countries were diverted from Karipur airport to Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram because of poor visibility. Traffic was disrupted in Kozhikode city and suburbs as roads were submerged. Landslips near Thodupuzha and other parts of Idukki district destroyed crops in about 50 hectares. Road traffic was disrupted in some places. Heavy rains damaged 12 houses and destroyed two.
Coastal areas of Kodungalloor in Thrissur district, Eravipuram in Kollam district, Purakkad in Alappuzha district, Ponnani in Malappuram district, Mulamthuruthy in Ernakulam district and Cheriyathura in Thiruvananthapuram district faced sea erosion. About 50 families have been shifted to safer places in Thrissur district. At Mulamthuthy, two houses were destroyed.
Kozhikode and Perinthamanna recorded 18 centimetres of rainfall during 24 hours ended at 8.30 this morning while Karipur and Mannarkkad reported 17 cm of rainfall. Enamackel received 14 cm of rainfall while Mancherry received 11 cm. The rainfall amounted to 10 cm in Quilandy, Thrissur, Vellayanikkara and Peerumedu.
Heavy rainfall is continuing in many parts of the State. Officials said that the situation could become serious in Idukki, Kozhikode, Malappuram and Thrissur districts if rain does not abate. The weather bureau has warned of rough seas and winds with speed of 55 to 60 km in the coastal areas of the State and Lakshadweep during the next 24 hours.