Heavy rainfall claims six lives in Kerala

Heavy rains lashing Kerala have claimed six lives besides causing huge destruction to properties, prompting the State authorities to gear up precautionary measures. Red alerts have been sounded in various districts in coming days and a holiday declared for educational institutions in seven southern districts today.

Briefing media  after a high-level review meeting, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said, a State Emergency Operations Centre of the Disaster Management Authority has been set up and Control Rooms would be opened in all districts and talukas. Four teams of the National Disaster Response Force have been



deployed  in Idukki, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Thrissur districts and another four teams would soon reach  the State.

The water-level of all dams in the State is being closely monitored, the Chief Minister said.

Meanwhile, flash floods and landslides disrupted normal life in different parts. Several people have been evacuated to safer places.

India Meteorological Department has forecast heavy rainfall in the State till Thursday. As bad weather conditions persist, a temporary ban on fishing in the sea has been imposed.