Kottayam: Collectors of districts worst hit by the unprecedented torrential downpour, flooding and landslips, have declared Monday a holiday for educational institutions in several areas.
After a lull, rains started lashing parts of Kerala since Sunday morning.
Calicut University has postponed entrance exams scheduled for Monday.
In Wayanad, all educational institutions, including professional colleges, CBSE & ICSE schools and Anganwadis, will remain shut on Monday.
In Ernakulam, Monday will be a holiday for all the educational institutions in Paravur. In other parts of the district, educational institutions other than those functioning as relief camps will function on Monday, according to an order from the district collector.
In Idukki, educational institutions, including professional colleges, in Idukki, Udumbanchola and Devikulam taluks will have a holiday on Monday.
In Malappuram, the collector declared a holiday for all schools in Nilambur taluk and those functioning as relief camps in Ponnani, Ernad, Kondotty taluks.
Calicut University postponed entrance exams for MCJ and MSW courses scheduled for Monday. New dates will be announced later.
In Pathanamthitta, educational institutions other than professional colleges in Tiruvalla taluk and Aranmula and Mallappuzhassery panchayats in Kozhencherry taluk will have a holiday on Monday.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) had on Saturday warned that heavy to very heavy rains were expected in 16 states, including Kerala, till Monday.
The weather department has issued a 'Red alert', urging people to be cautious as there was a possibility of heavy to very heavy rainfall in most places in Idukki, Wayanad, Kannur, Ernakulam, Palakkad and Malappuram.
According to the latest official figures, more than 60,000 people, including women, toddlers and senior citizens, have been lodged in various relief camps across 14 districts following the monsoon rains that triggered floods and landslips in several places.
Ten columns of Army, a unit of Madras Regiment along with personnel of Navy, Air Force and the NDRF were engaged in relief and rescue operations in worst-hit districts including Kozhikode, Idukki, Malappuram, Kannur and Wayanad, defence sources said.
Around 1,500 houses were damaged partially and 101 houses have been destroyed completely, according to disaster control room officials.
