Idukki lifts travel ban

A ban imposed last week on tourist traffic to the hilly areas of Idukki over fears of torrential rain has been uplifted. District Collector K Jeevan Babu has also withdrawn a red alert that was issued for the district.

The action comes as rainfall has been below worrying levels. However, the collector cautioned that journey at night should be avoided, because it may not be secure.

The ban came as an inconvenience to Neelakurinji enthusiasts who had thronged many regions in the districts, especially hill station Munnar, to witness the rare blooms.

Idukki's tourism thrived despite the destruction caused by the August deluge thanks to the rare blooms that drew a large number of tourists.

The ban gave some time to fix a few logistical problems that the district was facing in managing the crowd and heavy traffic.