A two-storey house under construction collapsed at Iringattiri near Karuvarakundu in Malappuram district on Monday morning following heavy rain. The concrete structure, which was about halfway through construction, gave way during the downpour. No casualties were reported. 

- Abdul Latheef Naha

Severe sea erosion triggered by rough monsoon conditions has washed away the Cherangai-Kavungoli coastal road at Kavungoli in Kasaragod, leaving around 200 families cut off without road access. The sea has advanced nearly 100 metres inland at Kavungoli, completely destroying the coastal road. Residents fear that strong waves could inundate their homes at any moment as the erosion continues unabated.

Apart from Kavungoli, severe coastal erosion has also been reported from Nellikunnu, Cherangai, Uduma, Pallikkara, and Musodi in Uppala. At Musodi, a house is on the verge of being swallowed by the sea. Sea protection measures, including geobags installed along vulnerable stretches of the coastline, have been severely damaged or washed away. Several houses remain under threat, while families living in high-risk areas have already been shifted to safer locations.

- C.P. Sajit

The flash floods that struck several districts in Kerala have delivered a crippling blow to the trading sector, said P. Niazar, president of Kerala Merchants’ Chamber of Commerce (KMCC), in a statement. Hundreds of firms have reported damages running into crores of rupees. Traders who had stocked goods in bulk, often on credit, anticipating the Onam market, are among the worst affected. Entire life savings and capital investments in businesses were wiped out within hours of the floods. Small traders without insurance coverage for their stock and equipment now face a severe financial crisis. Many firms may be forced to shut down unless the government steps in with effective intervention, said Mr. Niazar.

- M.P. Praveen

Following heavy downpour and flooding, a total of 1,300 people from 377 families have been sheltered in relief camps set up across various taluks in Alappuzha, according to the district administration. Those housed in the camps include 541 men, 543 women and 216 children. 

Chengannur taluk has the highest occupancy, with 759 people from 213 families taking shelter in 17 camps. This includes 341 men, 303 women and 115 children. Karthikappally taluk has 303 people from 94 families in two camps, while Kuttanad taluk has 183 people from 57 families across six camps. In Mavelikara taluk, 27 people from five families are sheltered in three camps, and in Ambalappuzha taluk, 23 people from six families are in a single camp. 

- The Hindu Bureau

The death toll in rain-related incidents across Kerala has risen to 15, while seven people remain missing, Chief Minister V D Satheesan said on Monday, as the State intensified rescue and relief operations amid continuing heavy rain.

As of 9 am on Monday, 316 relief camps were functioning across the state, sheltering 11,018 people displaced by the rain and flooding, the chief minister told a press conference after reviewing the flood situation in the state with top officials. - PTI

Kerala Health Minister K. Muraleedharan has accused the Opposition of trying to derive political mileage from the ongoing flood situation by raising allegations against the government, and asserted that relief and disease-prevention measures were being carried out effectively.

Speaking to reporters, the Minister said the Health Department was taking measures to prevent the outbreak and spread of diseases in relief camps and affected areas. Rejecting allegations that relief camps were facing a shortage of medicines, Mr. Muraleedharan said the government had not received any such complaint.

“There are medicines. No shortage of medicine has been reported anywhere in the camps. Medicines have been delivered wherever required and there is enough stock of the medicines currently needed,” he said. - PTI

A retaining wall of a resort at the Panchalimedu tourism centre near Peermade in Idukki collapsed on Sunday evening following heavy rain, damaging two parked cars.

- special arrangement

A high-level meeting convened by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan to review the rain situation in Kerala progresses on Monday morning.

- special arrangement

Around 200 families in the Parambil Bazar area in Kozhikode have been shifted to safety after floodwaters inundated the area. The Poonoor River is in spate following heavy rainfall. The power supply has been switched off.\

- A.S. Jayanth

IMD upgraded the rain alert for Kerala from yellow to orange on Monday, warning of intense heavy rainfall. Except for Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Thrissur, and Palakkad districts, the entire State has been placed under an orange alert. 

According to a weather bulletin issued by the IMD on Monday morning, very heavy rainfall in the range of 115.6 mm to 204.4 mm is likely across the districts where an orange alert has been issued during the next 24 hours, while isolated heavy rain will continue in the remaining four districts. 

- Dhinesh Kallungal