Image credit : Illustrative Image

Heavy rains, accompanied with strong winds, lashed Kerala on Thursday after a deep depression along the Bay of Bengal turned into a cyclonic storm Ockhi. The Government has declared a holiday for educational institutions in Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam on Friday.

Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Kollam, Pathanamthitta and Thiruvananthapuram were among the affected districts in the State, where Army and disaster management agencies are on a standby. Authorities have advised pilgrims going to the Sabarimala shrine not to travel during night as heavy rains continued to lash Pathanamthitta, where the temple is located, and Idukki.

An auto driver lost his life and a woman was injured when trees fell on them. Jishnu was killed on the spot at Kulathupuzha in Kollam as tree fell on his vehicle and a woman was injured when a tree fell on her at Vizhinjam in Thiruvananthapuram, police said.

Eight fishermen who ventured into the sea in Vizhinjam were reported missing. Five houses were fully destroyed and 27 partially in Idukki. People living in low lying areas were evacuated to safer places. Traffic was disrupted in a few places.

The valedictory function of ‘Padayorukkam’ – the State-wide rally organised by the Congress party was cancelled. The party’s Vice-President Rahul Gandhi was to address the meeting.