Thiruvananthapuram: Five people lost their lives and over 300 persons were shifted to relief camps on Monday, as heavy rains continued to pound the districts of Kannur, Kozhikode and Wayanad in Kerala.
All the five deaths reported were due to drowning.
A Red alert has been sounded in these districts till July 23 as the South West monsoon intensifies.
In Kannur, 22-year-old Rithul drowned when he slipped and fell into a pond at Payyanuur, while two deaths were reported in Kozhikode and one from Kasargod.
In Thrissur, 19-year-old Vishnu drowned in a river while having a bath at Mukundapuram taluk.
With the South West Monsoon gaining strength in the state since July 18, 10 deaths have been reported so far, Kerala State Disaster Management officials said.
Two fishermen from Tamil Nadu, who had put out to sea from Needakara in Kollam, are still missing, while the body of one of their colleague was washed ashore on Sunday.
So far, 11 houses have been fully damaged and 102 partially in the state.
Besides, 27 relief camps have been opened in the state, in which 348 persons have taken shelter.
A holiday has been declared for all educational institutions, including professional colleges, in Kasaragod, Kannur and Kozhikode till Tuesday.
The sea condition would be rough to very rough, it said fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea.
