KOCHI: Heavy rain hit normal life in Ernakulam on Tuesday with accidents being reported from different parts of the district. Educational institutions remained closed after the district administration announced a holiday.
The Meteorological Department has predicted heavy rain to continue in Ernakulam for two more days. With a rainfall of 7-11 cm reported from across the district, an alert for heavy rain - expected to be in the range of 12-24 cm at certain places - was issued for Wednesday. Different parts of the district is likely to experience rainfall of 7-11 cm till Saturday.
Six houses, including three in Muvattupuzha taluk, are reported to have suffered partial damage. Houses in Kanayannur and Kothamangalam taluks also suffered similar damage.
Ernakulam District Collector K Muhammed Y Safirulla has asked people living along the Thodupuzha and Muvattupuzha rivers to stay alert as four shutters of the Malankara Dam were opened following heavy rain in the catchment area. The District Disaster Management Authority Office claimed the shutters were raised 100 cm as the water level surged over the past 24 hours.
The water level at Aluva is also rising steadily. Authorities are monitoring the situation. Rehabilitation centres have been started across Kothamangalam taluk. In Kochi, waterlogging affected various parts, with Ernakulam South Railway Station, Panampilly Nagar, KSRTC main bus station, M G Road, Kaloor and Vyttila being the worst-affected. Some areas were inundated, forcing residents to leave for safer places. Shops too remained closed in such places. Traffic congestion was reported from several places.
“Considering the heavy traffic congestion due to continuous rain, we deployed additional policemen at traffic junctions. Even then, traffic blocks were reported at several parts of the city,” an officer with the Kochi Traffic (West) station said.