Rain uproots trees and snap power lines in several areas in Kerala

Heavy rain and strong winds overnight in the state downed trees and power lines, damaged homes and vehicles, and caused power outages and traffic disruptions in many regions.

Heavy rainfall, which continued on Friday, caused waterlogging in low-lying areas across the state and increased water levels in various rivers.

Water levels in many dams, including Walayar, Malampuzha, Moolathara and Chuliyar in Palakkad, approached their maximum storage capacity, prompting authorities to open the shutters by a few centimeters. A similar situation was reported in Thrissur district, where four spillway gates of Peechi dam were opened by a few centimetres.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for four districts – Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kannur and Kasaragod – for the day.

The IMD has also predicted “moderate to heavy rainfall” at isolated places across the state and thunderstorms with maximum surface wind speed reaching up to 50 km per hour.