Kottayam: Heavy rain lashed several parts of Kerala on Sunday, prompting authorities to declare holiday for educational institutes in Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Ernakulam, Alappuzha and Thrissur on Monday.
District authorities have declared holiday for all educational institutions in all eight districts, including professional colleges.
Kerala University has postponed all its examinations scheduled for Monday to July 21, while Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) will function. South-west monsoon has been active over Kerala and rains occurred at most places in Lakshadweep, IMD bulletin said. Heavy to very heavy rainfall recorded in cm are: Vaikom (Kottayam district) 13, Kayamkulam (Alappuzha district) 10, Piravom (Ernakulam district) 9, Kottayam, Kayamkulam_Agri (Alappuzha district) & Munnar (Idukki district) 7 each. In the second spell of rains in the south-west monsoon, 9 people have died since July 9, including a fisherman who was electrocuted after she came into contact with a live wire in Alappuzha.
The incessant rain left most of the dams brimming and water bodish in spate. Shutters of the Neyyar dam in Thiruvananthapuram and Banasura in Wayanad have been opened as the water level has been rising in the reservoirs and people living in the downstream have been asked to be cautious.
People have been advised against travelling in heavy rains, especially during nights, due to possibility of land slips in hilly regions as heavy rains are likely to continue till July 17.
With the sea being rough, public has also been asked not to frequent beaches.
The weather bureau had warned heavy to very heavy rainfall accompanied by gusty winds until Thursday.
Warning has been issued to fishermen against venturing out to the sea as winds with speed of 45 kmph are likely along the Kerala and Lakshadweep shores.
Heavy rain, along with gusty winds, since Saturday night wreaked havoc in parts of Kerala, including Kottayam, uprooting trees and causing water-logging. In some places, houses have suffered partial damage as trees got uprooted and fell on them.
A seven-year-old who went missing in the waters of Manathavady river has not been traced yet.
Read more: Dengue threat looms as rain soaks Kerala
The south-west monsoon became active after a lull last week, resulting in widespread water-logging and damage. One of the worst-affected districts, Idukki, had witnessed widespread incidents of landslides and crop loss.
The rainy season has also seen a spike in viral infections, including dengue.
(With inputs from PTI)
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