Popular Tourist Spots In Kerala Close Due To Heavy Rainfall

Popular tourist destinations in Kottayam and Thiruvananthapuram districts have had to close due to heavy rains currently lashing Kerala state.The Keralan government has closed hill resorts to tourists, including Ponmudi in Thiruvananthapuram district. People have been cautioned against venturing into water bodies, traversing forested routes and frequenting beaches. In Idukki district, authorities have raised the shutters of the Malankara Dam and cautioned people living downstream to exercise maximum vigilance.Incidents of flooding, the uprooting of trees, property damage and minor landslides were reported from many parts of the northern districts of Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod after the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert. In Wayanad, vehicles were stuck on National Highway 766 due to flash floods. Vehicles, including tourist buses and cars, heading to Sultan Bathery were stuck in the area. Traffic remained disrupted throughout July 18.In Wayanad, over 300 families have been relocated to 26 relief camps while 71 families have been transferred to four relief camps in Kannur. A flight from Kuwait to Kannur Airport had to be diverted to Kochi due to heavy rain. In total, the Keralan government has moved an estimated 60,000 people to relief camps and alerted National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams in natural disaster-prone areas.Schools remained closed in the Wayanad, Kannur and Palakkad districts on July 19. In Kasaragod, however, the holiday did not apply to colleges. The Kasaragod collector, Inbasekar K, declared holidays for state, CBSE, ICSE schools, anganwadis and madrassas in the district.The IMD has also warned of turbulent seas and tidal surges, cautioning fisherfolk against going out to sea. In Kozhikode district, residents living on the banks of the Kuttyadi and Mahe rivers were also cautioned as water levels rose. At least 10 trains were cancelled as the water inundated the tracks, and several high-tension electricity wires broke in the inclement weather, too.(With inputs from multiple news agencies)