Rain claims 12 lives in the last one week in Kerala

: Heavy rains accompanied by gusty winds that lashed Kerala have claimed 12 lives in the last one week, besides causing widespread damage to property and crops.

With low-lying areas under flood water,over 5000 people have been shifted to relief campus across the state, the state control room monitoring the rain incidents here, said.

Two people, one each at Malappuram and Kottayam districts, died in rain related incidents today, the control room officials said.

A high-level meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan with District Collectors through video conference, reviewed the flood situation in the state.

The Chief Minister asked district authorities to dispense the compensation to flood-affected people without any delay.

Train services via Ernakulam were disrupted as a major railway station in Kochi city was hit by rain waters.

Flight services were not affected at Cochin International Airport at Nedumbassery, an airport spokesman said.

Road traffic was also hit in various parts due to water logging. Several low-lying areas were inundated and roads were cut off, especially in high range areas, officials said.

Nearly 30 rehabilitation centres were opened in Kottayam district to accommodate hundreds of people affected by floods.

Major towns in Kottayam district, including Pala and Erattupetta,were almost isolated in the floods,officials said.

Nearly 1000 hectares of paddy were submerged in flood waters in the district, they said