Rain havoc in Kerala: 3.5 lakh affected
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The heavy rains this monsoon has wrecked havoc in Kerala affecting about 3.5 lakh people in the state.
More than 1.18 lakh people have sought refuge in relief camps as heavy rains continued to lash several parts of the state.
The second spell of monsoon rains started on July 9 and has so far claimed 39 lives in Kerala. The South-West Monsoon had set in over the state on May 29.
A total 50,836 people are now in 212 relief camps opened in Alappuzha while 37,657 are in 164 camps in neighbouring Kottayam, the two worst-hit districts in the state, till this morning, said the state officials.
There was no respite from waterlogging at many places in the districts. People including women and children, moving in waist-deep water, is a common sight now in many places.
As major roads are flooded and even state-run KSRTC buses have stopped services in many places, people were stranded in many areas of Alappuzha, including Muttar and Kainakari.
Scarcity of safe drinking water and possible threat of water-borne disease are also a cause of worry for the locals.
The meteorological department has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall at one or two places in the state till Saturday.
Strong winds mainly from westerly direction with speeds occasionally reaching 35-45 kmph gusting to 60 kmph were likely along and off Kerala coast and over Lakshadweep area, it said.