Heavy rain lashes Kochi, schools closed

All schools in Kerala's Kochi remain closed on Monday as heavy rain lashed the city causing Water-logging in several areas. The India Metrological Department (IMD) had on Sunday issued an 'Orange alert' for the next two days in seven Kerala district including Ernakulam, Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Malappuram, and Palakkad. Amid the bad weather, by-polls are also underway in five constituencies of the state -- Vatiyoorkavu, Aroor, Konni, Ernakulam and Manjeswaram.