How Many Lives Were Lost as Kerala Faces Monsoon Devastation?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Five lives lost due to monsoon-related incidents.
- Widespread flooding across all 14 districts of Kerala.
- Approximately 2,000 people displaced and accommodated in relief camps.
- Red and orange alerts issued by the IMD for various districts.
- Infrastructure severely impacted, with road and train services disrupted.
Thiruvananthapuram, May 30 (NationPress) Tragically, five individuals lost their lives in various incidents on Friday as relentless rainfall impacted all 14 districts of Kerala, according to officials. In Kottayam, two young men who went fishing in a submerged paddy field at Kollad drowned when their canoe overturned.
In Vizhinjam, which is part of the capital city, two fishermen also perished after their boat capsized in the tumultuous sea.
A 38-year-old migrant worker from West Bengal, known as Ramakrishnan, tragically fell overboard while working on a fishing boat in Ernakulam.
Additionally, two residents from Malappuram have been reported as missing.
The heavy downpour has led to significant disruptions, including road blockages due to flooding in various locations across the state.
Traffic has been severely affected, especially in the low-lying regions of multiple districts.
Approximately 2,000 homes statewide have suffered partial damage due to the intense rainfall.
The Indian Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for the districts of Idukki, Kannur, Kasargod, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, and Thrissur, while an orange alert has been declared for Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, and Wayanad.
By Friday, the number of relief camps accommodating nearly 2,000 people had escalated to 60.
In Thiruvalla, central Kerala, a grieving woman expressed her sorrow as she learned that her husband's body, who had passed away earlier that day, could not be brought home due to flooding. "I was informed that his body will be kept at our relative’s home near the church where the funeral will take place," she shared.
Electricity Minister K. Krishnankutty announced that the Kerala State Electricity Board is on high alert, with staff working tirelessly to restore power lines promptly.
The Board has cautioned that if any power lines are downed, the situation must be reported immediately, and no one should intervene.
Train services across the state faced delays on Friday due to numerous trees that were uprooted and fell onto the tracks the previous night.