One dies as heavy rains, winds batter southern districts; schools, colleges closed
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Thiruvananthapuram: Southern districts of Kerala have been put on high alert as a heavy depression formed in Indian Ocean is fast turning into cyclonic proportions.
Torrential overnight rains accompanied by squally winds lashed Thiruvananthapuram district, uprooting scores of trees and affecting normal life in the southern districts.
An auto driver was killed as a tree fell on his autorikshaw near Kulathupuzha in Kollam on Thursday. The deceased has been identified as Vishu (40).
The torrential rain has affected road traffic between Kanyakumari and Nagercoil.
The Kanyakumari district administration asked people not to venture out following the heavy rains and squally winds.
A couple of trains, originating and passing through this district suffered partial to full cancellation, even as some of them were rescheduled, Southern Railway officials said.
Meanwhile, rains accompanied with strong winds lashed many parts of south Tamil Nadu such as Tirunelveli and Tuticorin among others.
Fishermen stayed off the sea in Tuticorin even as boats anchored on the shore suffered damage following strong winds.
Educational institutions have been asked to shut in southern districts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.