Thiruvananthapuram:With Southwest monsoon intensifying in Kerala two days after its onset, heavy downpours lashed several parts of the state, especially in south and central districts triggering landslides, uprooting trees and waterlogging. Continuous rains for hours caused widespread destruction in the high-range areas of Kottayam and Idukki districts, while intense rains caused severe waterlogging and traffic snarls in the low-lying areas of Thrissur district.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) updated its weather warning, placing the central district of Thrissur and northern districts of Malappuram and Kozhikode under red alert on Saturday. An orange alert was sounded in Idukki, Palakkad and Wayanad and a yellow alert was issued in six districts.
A red alert indicates heavy to extremely heavy rain of over 20 cm in 24 hours, while an orange alert means very heavy rain of 11 cm to 20 cm, and a yellow alert means heavy rainfall between 6 cm and 11 cm. Landslides and trees getting uprooted were reported at Poochapra and Kolappra areas, located in the interior of the hill district Idukki on Friday night.
Some houses and vehicles were damaged in the landslip, but no casualties were reported, locals said. Crops were destroyed and interior roads, used by local families, were damaged as huge granite boulders fell down from the hill and blocked the pathways. "We faced such a horror... Following the continuous heavy rains, a landslide happened. Granite boulders, huge stones and sand gushed down...We felt as if the trees were coming down by flying," a villager recalled his horrendous experience.
A family, who had been living in the hilly area, had a narrow escape as rocks fell upon their house. They were later shifted to a safer place, local people added. Traffic restrictions were put in place along Thodupuzha-Puliyanmala state highway due to the possible threat of mudslides.