: Four more persons lost their lives in rain related incidents in various parts of Kerala today as the toll in the second spell since early this month climbed to 27.
The deaths were reported from Thrissur, Alapuzha and Kottayam districts.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has requested Union Home minister Rajnath Singh to send a central team to visit the stae to evaluate the havoc caused due to the rains.
Ninety persons have so far lost their lives since the onset of the South West Monsoon in Kerala on June 29 and over 27,000 people have taken shelter in relief camps, a government release said.
The second spell of rains began from July 9.
Landslides have been reported from over 50 places. a total of 333 houses have been totally damaged and 8,000 partially. Over 10,000 hecatres of crop has been lost in the last two months.
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In Alapuzha and Kottayam districts, National Disaster Response teams have been deployed. The state has sought an additional two NDRF teams.
The Army was also prepared to provide help to meet any eventuality, the release added.
State control room sources said low lying areas in Kottayam and Alapuzha districts continued to remain flooded as waters have not receded.
In an effort at providing them some relief, the state government today decided to give a one time relief of Rs 1,000 each as assistance to families sheltered in relief camps.
A decision in this regard was taken at today's cabinet meeting.
According to the the Met office here, heavy rainfall was recorded in Vatakara (15 cm) Quilandy (13 cm) Perumbavoor and Kodungalloor(11 cm each) in the last 24 hours, ending 8.30 AM today.
In the next five days, rain and thunderstorms were likely to occur at most places in Kerala and Lakshadweep, it said.