International Malabar River Festival kayaking events cancelled as heavy rains trigger flooding across Kozhikode
The events were cancelled due to dangerous river levels, following advice from emergency services.
The events were cancelled due to dangerous river levels, following advice from emergency services.
The events were cancelled due to dangerous river levels, following advice from emergency services.
The second day's competitions of Kerala's Malabar River Festival, including the international white-water kayaking events, were cancelled on Saturday (Aug 1) after the water level in the Chaliyar tributary Chalippuzha rose to dangerous levels following incessant overnight rain.
Kodanchery Grama Panchayat President Annakutty Devassy and Adventure Tourism CEO Binu Kuriakose said the decision was taken on the advice of the Fire and Rescue Services. All participating athletes and kayaking equipment were shifted to safer locations as a precaution.
Authorities have also prohibited public entry to the kayaking venue from Pulikkayam, warning people to stay away from the river and waterlogged areas. Residents of Kodanchery Grama Panchayat have been urged to remain alert as heavy rain continues.
The international white-water kayaking championship had begun on Friday (July 31) as part of the Malabar River Festival. Intermediate-category extreme slalom events for men and women were successfully held in Chalippuzha on the first day.
In the men's category, Italy's Giovanni Giorgi claimed first place, while Indian paddlers Nachiketh Gupta and Naveen Yadav finished second and third respectively. In the women's event, S Muskan of Karnataka secured first place, followed by 13-year-old Dona Marsela from Ernakulam in second and Spoorthi Lokesh of Karnataka in third.
Saturday's schedule included the national kayaking ranking competition and several other events beginning at 9.30 am. A cultural conference, scheduled to be inaugurated at 5 pm. by Kerala PWD Minister PK Basheer, has also been affected by the adverse weather.
Heavy rain disrupts high-range district
The heavy rain that lashed the district from Friday midnight caused rivers in the high-range areas to overflow, triggering widespread disruption across Kozhikode district.
Several popular tourist destinations have been closed, while authorities have restricted travel to the high-range regions due to flooding and the inundation of several roads. Damage to buildings and roads has been reported from the Thamarassery and Thiruvambady regions.
A stretch of the National Highway at Engapuzha has been partially submerged, forcing authorities to divert traffic between Thamarassery Ghat Road and Thamarassery town.
In Vilangad, where a devastating landslide claimed several lives in 2024, many families have been evacuated to safer locations as a precaution amid continuing heavy rain.
Authorities have advised the public to avoid unnecessary travel to flood-affected areas and to strictly follow official safety warnings as heavy rain continues across the district.