More rains expected over next week in State: MeT department

Thiruvananthapuram: People in drought-hit Kerala have had some relief from sweltering heat as many parts of the state received rains in the last two days, the MeT department said Monday.

The Met Department said several parts of Kerala and Lakshadweep received rains, heavy in some areas, over the past two days and more rains are expected over the next week.

It also said that rain and thundershowers are most likely to occur at a few places in Kerala and Lakshadweep in the next five days and isolated thunder squalls were most likely over Kerala.

While Varkala in Thiruvananthapuram district recorded 13 cm of rain, neighbouring Kollam district and Ottapalam in Palakkad received 7 cm each, a weather bulletin from the Indian Meteorological Department here said.

The maximum temperature fell markedly in Kannur district and appreciably in Alapuzha district, while it was appreciably above normal in Palakkad Kollam and Kozhikode districts.

While Palakkad and Punalur recorded the highest maximum temperature of 37 degrees Celsius, Karipur recorded the lowest minimum temperature of 23 degrees Celsius, it said.

Kerala has witnessed a deficit of 34 per cent rains of the South West monsoon, which contributes to 70 per cent of its annual rainfall.

The North East monsoon had also failed.

The government has already declared the state drought hit and has sought an assistance of about Rs 500 crore.

Crops in over 30,000 hectares have been damaged, causing a loss of Rs 300 crore.