Heavy rains hit Kerala, Cochin airport suspends operations till Saturday
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Thiruvananthapuram: Heavy rains again hit Kerala on Wednesday killing four more people and taking the death toll to 43 since August 8.
It has been raining heavily in several parts of the state since Tuesday evening. The authorities were forced to open 33 dams across Kerala.
Those reported dead on Wednesday were a couple in Malappuram who were crushed after their house crumbled. Their six-year-old child is missing.
A person died in a Munnar lodge as it crashed. A 70-year-old woman in Ranni near Pathanamthitta was electrocuted as her house was submerged.
The Idukki dam floodgates were reopened late on Tuesday as the water level in the Periyar river and its tributaries flowing through Ernakulam and Thrissur districts rose menacingly.
Following flooding in and around the Cochin International Airport, all flight operations were cancelled till 2 p.m. on Wednesday. The airport is situated near the Periyar river bank.The closure was expected to continue till 2 pm.
However, the airport extended the suspension of all flight operations till Saturday afternoon following huge waterlogging around the airport.
Flights are being diverted to other airports.
The torrential rainfall, which has forced the state's reservoirs to release excess water causing flooding and landslides, was expected to stop today. But the Met office has said it is likely to continue till Saturday.
A red alert has been issued for several districts today and tomorrow.
Authorities are maintaining a close vigil especially in Idukki district as the shutters of the Mullaperiyar dam were also opened at 2.35 a.m. after its water-level crossed 140 feet.
People living in and around the dam were evacuated late on Tuesday.
Leaves of all revenue department officials have been cancelled, authorities said.
Rains which started on August 8 are said to have caused the worst damage to Kerala since 1924. Over 50,000 people are in relief camps and the damages to crops and properties is estimated to be over Rs 8,000 crore.
Torrential rains, overflowing rivers and a series of landslides have claimed more than 40 lives in Kerala.