Thiruvananthapuram: Heavy rain continued to lash parts of Kerala on Thursday, claiming 23 lives and causing widespread damage.
Ten people, including five of a family, were killed at Adimali in Idukki. Another five of a family were killed in landslide at Adyanpara in Nilambur. One person died in Vythiri in Wayanad.
Incessant rain has also filled up dams in the state. Four shutters of the Idamalayar dam in Ernakulam district were opened on Thursday morning. The rapid rise in water level forced the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) to advance the opening of the shutters to 5 am from 8 am. The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has opened the shutters of Anathode dam, the reservoir of the Sabarigiri hydel project, and excess water will flow to Kakki/Pamba rivers. Red alert issued for Pampa dam after water level reached 986 meter (Full Reservoir Level: 986.33 meter).
Authorities have urged those living along the banks of Periyar River to stay vigilant. Though authorities had informed that only one shutter of the Idamalayar dam would be opened, four shutters were opened on Thursday. Low-lying areas in Kalady and Aluva in Ernakulam are getting flooded.
As many as 547 people have been shifted to relief camps in Ernakulam. Schools functioning as relief camps were shut since Thursday afternoon. A red alert was sounded on Wednesday.
After 26 years, a shutter of the Cheruthoni dam of the Idukki reservoir in Kerala was opened on Thursday as the water level inched towards its full capacity of 2,403 feet.
Friday holiday for Wayanad, Kannur, Pathanamthitta, Malappuram
Holiday declared for educational institutions, excluding professional colleges, in Nilambur, Edavanna, Orngatteri, Areekode,Kizhuparamba, Pandikkad, Vazhakkadu, Vazhayur, Muthuvallur, Cheekode in Malappuram district. Exams, scheduled for tomorrow, will be conducted without any change.
Friday will be a holiday for all education institutions, including professional colleges, CBSE, ICSE, ISE, Kendriya Vidyalayas and Anganwadis, in Kothamangalam, Aluva, Paravur, Kunnathunadu and Kadamakkudy.
Pathanamthitta district collector declares Friday holiday for all educational institution, including professional colleges, in the district.
UPDATE: Friday will be a holiday for educational institutions, other than professional colleges and model residential schools (MRS), in Wayanad, as per an updated order by the district collector. It will be holiday for CBSE and ICSE schools and Anganvadis in the district. Earlier in the evening, the district collector had declared holiday for all educational institutions in the district, but scaled it down later by omitting professional colleges and MRS.
Kannur university postpones all the exams scheduled for Friday. The new date will be issued later by the Controller of Exams.
The all-India trade test by National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT) at Ernakulam, Idukki and Wayanad ITIs scheduled for August 10, 11 postponed. Dates of the exam will be announced later.
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