Thiruvananthapuram, June 06: Heavy rains lashing many parts of Kerala have claimed 23 lives since the onset of south-west monsoon on May 27, besides causing large-scale loss to crop and property, officials said today.
Most casualties, mainly due to drowning in swelling rivers and flash floods, were reported from Alappuzha and Kottayam districts.
With water level increasing at Kuttanad, the state’s rice bowl, in Alappuzha district in central Kerala, many low laying places were now under threat of flood, they said.
Water has also entered some houses in low lying areas.
Vehicular traffic in Alappuzha and Changanassery road has been affected as water has entered a few places.
As per preliminary report, 55 houses have been damaged in rain related incidents.Crop loss in the state, mainly in Kuttanand, was estimated to be Rs.5.53 crore. Crops in 544 hectares were now under water, the officials said.
–PTI