Kochi: Two people died while seven people were reportedly missing in Kerala which witnessed heavy rains for the last three days forcing the authorities to announce orange and red alerts in many districts on Friday. Two rain related deaths were reported at Thiruvalla in Pathanamthitta district and Kollam district. Three fishermen hailing from Kanyakumari were missing from Neendakara in Kollam from where they went for fishing this morning.
Another four fishermen were reportedly missing from Vizhinjam after they venture into the sea for fishing on Thursday. Navy was pressed into a search operation for the missing people. A red alert was issued in five districts, Idukki, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Kannur. The Meteorological department predicts rains amounting 204 mm in these districts in the next 24 hours. An alert was issued in Pathanamthitta district, where control rooms have been opened in seven taluks due to incessant rains causing rise of water levels in many rivers including Pamba, Meenachil and Manimala.
The District Collector of Idukki directed to raise the shutters of three dams, Lower Periyar, Kallarkutty and Malankara and issued a warning to the people residing on the banks of Periyar river and Muvattupuzha river. A holiday was declared for educational institutions in Kasaragod district by the District Collector in the wake of heavy rains. A ban on all kinds of mining was imposed in Kottayam district for the next three days.
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