The State received heavy to very heavy rainfall during the 24 hours ending on Thursday morning as a moisture-laden westerly winds toyed with the heights of Western Ghats.
Almost similar conditions prevailed along the West Coast, with Coastal Karnataka, Konkan and Goa joining the monsoon party.
There is no marked relent forecast either since the causative low-pressure area over Odisha coast has expectedly intensified and typhoon ‘Soulik’ in the West Pacific stood its ground.
The Thiruvanathapuram Met Office said in its outlook that heavy rainfall (exceeding 7 cm) to very heavy rainfall (exceeding 13 cm) would lash parts of the State till Friday morning.
Heavy rainfall (exceeding 7 cm) has also been forecast at isolated places in Lakshadweep during the same period.
STRONG WINDS
Strong winds from westerly direction with speed occasionally reaching 45 to 55 km/hr are likely along and off the Kerala coast and over Lakshadweep.
Heavy torrents on Thursday went so far as to create ‘mini-Uttarkhand-like’ situation along the hills of Kozhikode district in North Kerala, a disaster management official said.
Flash floods, massive runoff and landslides were reported from the area as the hills continued to be relentlessly targeted during the day.
A road leading to Kakkayam dam site was destroyed as heavy boulders rushed down, trapping in the process a group of visitors.
KUTTANAD VULNERABLE
Locals had to see the help of the police and the fire and rescue team before they could be brought back home.
In Central Kerala, water level in the vulnerable lowlands of Kuttanad was rising menacingly what with rain-fed rivers from the hills in the East emptying their contents into the region.
Kuttanad lies below sea level and the heavy discharge from the rivers has raised the level of standing water in the region by a little more than 1.5 feet on an average.
IN SPATE
Rivers and rivulets in the southern district were too in spate, and a directive for educational institutions to stay closed would be valid for Friday as well.
Heavy rainfall recorded in cm during 24 hours until Thursday morning were: Vadakara-12; Haripad, Kayamkulam and Thalasserry- nine each; Kannur, Irikkur, Mavelikkara, Mancompu,Kollam and Kozha- eight each; Alappuzha, Piravom, Taliparamba and Vaikom- seven each.
Other chief amounts of rainfall in cm were: Idukki, Hosdurg, Varkala and Vythiri – five each.