Rain fury on, 2 more die, 4 missing

Heavy rain continued to pound the state, inundating several low-lying areas and causing widespread damage to property and human lives in many places.

The Sree Mahadeva Temple at Aluva, Kochi, is almost submerged after the Periyar River overflowed | Albin Mathew 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Heavy rain continued to pound the state, inundating several low-lying areas and causing widespread damage to property and human lives in many places, forcing the state government to switch to a crisis-control mode.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who returned from the US on Monday, reviewed the relief measures.  
In his video conferencing, he instructed the district collectors to be on high alert. On Monday, two persons died and another four reported missing in rain-related incidents.

With the Met predicting more downpour till Wednesday, a holiday has been declared for schools in Idukki, Kottayam, Pathanamthitta and Ernakulam districts.Schools and colleges will remain closed in Alappuzha’s four taluks —Kuttanad, Cherthala, Ambalapuzha and Karthikappally. Fishermen have been asked not to venture in rough sea.

3,000 people have been shifted to 123 relief camps

4 districts’ — Idukki, Kottayam, Pathanamthitta and Ernakulam — schools will remain closed on Tuesday