Thiruvananthapuram: After nearly 72 hours of incessant rainfall in many parts of the state, Kerala limped slowly toward normality on Monday.
All educational institutions in Ernakulam, Idukki and Kottayam had remained closed on Monday following heavy rains over the weekend.
Contrary to the weather forecasts that the rain would continue with the same force or turn mightier from Monday, the skies cleared in most places in the state on Monday, bringing relief to people in affected areas.
In Idukki, one person was killed when a tree was uprooted and fell on two bike riders. The deceased was identified as Manu Raju, 21. The incident happened near Thondimala on the Kochi-Dhanushkodi highway. Raju’s co-rider, Nandu, was hospitalised with injuries.
There was little respite from rain, however, in places such as Palakkad, and heavy rains and road breaches were reported from Mannarkad and Kanjirapuzha. At Kanjiram near Mannarkad, one house was destroyed and a car was partially submerged in earth slippages caused by the rains.
Water levels in Idukki and Mullaperiyar dams have risen after the rains. Both dams had been experiencing low water levels as the rainfall during June-August had been much less than normal.
Local reports indicated that the rainfall over the past few days was the most since 2013. The water level in Bharathapuzha, Kerala’s longest river, rose to a level considered to be the highest in a decade.
The downpour also helped the state reduce some of the rainfall deficiency of the current monsoon season. While Kerala should have got 192 centimetres of rain in the monsoon season until Sunday, it has now received 168 centimetres, thanks mainly to the rainfall over the past few days.
Authorities have warned residents to continue to be on guard against possible rain-related dangers and recommended avoiding night travel and visits to the beach when the sea is rough. An alert has also been sounded regarding the possibility of flash floods.
