KOTTAYAM/ ALAPPUZHA : With the South-West monsoon gaining strength,albeit belatedly,in the State, heavy incessant rain lashed Central Travancore from Thursday night onwards.
People living in the low-lying areas in the western parts of Kottayam are under the threat of flash floods, while the spectre of landslides and cloudbursts loom large over those in the high ranges in the eastern parts.
According to sources, heavy rain destroyed several houses on Thursday night, including three in Kanjirappally taluk. Traffic got disrupted in various places in the high ranges, including Erumely-Pampa highway due to inundation of Kanamala Causeway.
Houses Damaged
Three houses were completely destroyed and as many as 26 houses got partially damaged in the heavy rain that lashed Alappuzha district. Sea erosion claimed one house at Madhavamukku in Purackadu. Many houses at Aryad South, Komalapuram and Purackadu got destroyed after trees, which got uprooted in the heavy rain, fell on them. Ambalappuzha taluk bore the maximum brunt of rain.
As many as 17 houses got damaged. In Ambalappuzha coastal belt, sea erosion is also posing grave threat to many houses. In Cherthala taluk, as many as six houses were damaged. In Cherthala, maximum damages have been reported from Aroor panchayat. Chengannur, Karthikapally and Kuttanad taluk offices reported damages to three houses each in their area.
The district administration declared holiday on Friday afternoon in the district due to heavy rain.