Rain lashes Kerala as monsoon gains strength; 6 killed, life disrupted

Kochi/Kozhikode/Kannur: At least six people died in rain-related incidents in Kerala on Saturday as southwest monsoon gained strength, inundating roads, uprooting trees, damaging houses and throwing normal life into disarray in almost all districts.

Padannakkad, Kasaragod, received the day’s highest rainfall (13cm) until 5.30pm. Seven districts, from Thrissur to Kasaragod, will be on orange alert (heavy to very heavy rainfall) on Sunday while all other districts will be on yellow alert.

A tree fell on a temporary shed, destroying it and killing a 29-year-old man sleeping under it at Manalur, Thrissur, a fire and rescue services official said.

A 36-year-old woman and her seven-year-old son drowned in Kuttiady River in Kozhikode. The deceased were Remya (36), a resident of Kaitherimukku near Kuttiady, and Sivanand. She was working as a pharmacist and went to the river to wash clothes. She reportedly ventured into the water to rescue her son, who slipped and fell into the river. Both were washed away by the strong current. Residents managed to rescue Remya and rush her to a hospital, but her life could not be saved. Fire force deployed scuba teams to recover Sivanand’s body as high water level hindered rescue efforts.

Two siblings died while another boy sustained serious injuries after a retaining wall of a house collapsed at Sanchakkadavu near Adhur, Kasaragod. The deceased were Musammil (14) and his brother Munsir (9), sons of Abubacker and Saudha. Their neighbour Wahash (14) has been admitted to a private hospital in Kasaragod.

The police said the children had set up a small snack stall near a bus stop close to the wall. As Saturday was a holiday, children were at the shop. The wall, built using laterite stone, collapsed around 5pm trapping the children under the debris. Residents rescued the children and rushed them to a private hospital at Cherkala, but their lives could not be saved. Adhur police registered a case.

A 21-year-old man drowned in a pond at Pattimattom in Ernakulam around 5pm. The deceased was Nabeel of Mayyanad, Kollam. He went to the pond with his friends for a swim. The body was recovered around an hour later.

Members of a family at Atholi in Kozhikode had a narrow escape as a well located adjacent to a house caved in. The house suffered damage.

District collector D R Meghashree ordered the suspension of operations at all quarries in Wayanad as well as machine-assisted earth removal until further orders. Functioning of tourist facilities in vulnerable, disaster-prone areas also have been halted until further notice.

IMD also issued alert orange alert for districts from Malappuram to Kasaragod on Monday. No alert has been issued for Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam.

Kerala recorded 44% excess rains in this season in the first six days of June, until 8.30am on Saturday. Kerala received 12cm rain against the normal 9.8cm rain. Kollam recorded 44% deficiency in receiving rains while all other districts recorded normal to large excess rains during the period.

IMD said that heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely in parts of Kerala and Mahe from June 6 to 9, the weather department said.

Additionally, widespread rainfall with thunderstorms and strong winds of speeds reaching 40-50kmph is likely in Kerala until June 10, the IMD said.

It cautioned fishermen to avoid fishing along the Kerala-Lakshadweep-Karnataka coasts until June 9 as strong winds of speeds reaching 40-60kmph were likely along that region.

CWC alert

Central Water Commission has issued a yellow alert for residents on the banks of the Manimala River after water level rose on Saturday. Residents have been asked to remain cautious, avoid entering or attempting to cross the river and stay prepared to relocate from flood-prone areas if instructed by authorities.