Heavy rains: Rough seas cause damage, 173 families evacuated

Thiruvananthapuram: Heavy rains are continuing to lash various parts of central and southern districts of Kerala for the second day on Wednesday, causing extensive damage in coastal areas.

Rains and rough seas caused damage to hundreds of houses in coastal areas in the state capital and Alappuzha. Around 173 families were evacuated in both the districts.

Water entered many houses in Valiyathura, Adimalathura and Cheriyathura near here. Around 110 houses were damaged in Valiathura and Perumathura. The affected people were shifted to relief camps.

In Alappuzha, authorities have given directions to evacuate people in low lying areas, where reports of houses being damaged have come in. Relief camps have also been opened to shift the affected people in the district.

The meteorological centre here said heavy rains, (exceeding seven cm) to very heavy rainfall (exceeding 13 cm) is most likely to occur at one or two places in Kerala till May 19 morning.

The state disaster management authority here said the heavy rains were not due to the likely onset of south west monsoon, but because of the low pressure formed in the Bay of Bengal.

They also alerted District Collectors to take necessary precautionary steps to face any eventualities as the rains are expected to continue for one more day.