THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Heavy rain lashed across the state resulting in three deaths and widespread damage, on Monday.
Two fatalities were reported in Alappuzha, where an 18-year-old girl from Palluruthy died when a roadside shop collapsed on her and a 62-year-old drowned in a water body.
In Kollam, a 55-year-old man was killed after a rubber tree branch fell on him while he was pruning the tree. In Adhur, a farmer lost nearly 100 areca palms due to strong winds.
The heavy rains caused several trees to fall on railway tracks, disrupting train services. Three trains were delayed for an hour after a coconut tree fell on power lines near the Kumbla railway track while a large tree from private property toppled onto the tracks between Guruvayur and Punkunnam.
The southwest monsoon was vigorous on Monday. Urumi in Kozhikode recorded the highest rainfall of 21cm, followed by Ayyankunnu in Kannur with 20cm. Unofficial reports suggest over 20cm of rainfall in other areas, including Sheni (Kasaragod), Banasurasagar and Thariyode (Wayanad), Pinarayi (Kannur), and Kuttiyadi (Kozhikode), within 24 hours.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast intense rainfall across Kerala on Tuesday, issuing a red alert for three districts: Kozhikode, Wayanad, and Kannur. An orange alert has been issued for Thrissur, Malappuram, and Kasaragod, while Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, and Palakkad remain under yellow alert.
However, IMD officials have ruled out the likelihood of extremely heavy rainfall in the red alert districts. They clarified that the alert was based on the cumulative impact of recent rainfall rather than an expectation of intense downpours on Tuesday alone.
Meanwhile, district collectors have declared a holiday for educational institutions in Wayanad, Kannur, Kozhikode and Kottayam on Tuesday. In Wayanad and Kottayam, the holiday includes professional colleges but excludes residential schools and colleges.
Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning are likely at isolated places until Tuesday. Strong surface winds are expected intermittently along the Kerala coast. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea until May 30, with a high wave warning in effect until Tuesday night.
The IMD has also said a low-pressure area is likely to form over the west-central and adjoining north Bay of Bengal around May 27. Strong westerly winds are expected to persist over Kerala and Lakshadweep through the coming week. Rain or thundershowers are likely across the state until June 1.
A control room has been set up at the office of the revenue minister (0471 2518655).
