Heavy rain in Wayanad, collector orders closure of tourism centres in 'Red Zones'

Wayanad: With heavy rains continuing to lash across the district, District Collector D R Meghasree, who is also the chairperson of the District Disaster Management Authority DDMA, ordered the closure of tourism centres functioning in Ecologically Sensitive Zones in the district. 

According to District Tourism Promotion Council member secretary Binosh Kunjappan, the major tourism destinations closed are the Cheengeri trekking trail, Kanthanpara WaterFalls, Pookkode Lake, Edakkal Caves, and Karlad Lake. Binosh told Onmanorama that though a few other destinations are open, most of them are defunct as there was widespread tree-fall en route to the spots last night. 

The tourism spot 'EN Uru' at Pookkode has also been closed for the last few days due to intense rain. The District Collector also ordered that all major construction and road-laying works in the district using earthmovers and all granite quarries be stopped until further orders.