THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The death toll in monsoon havoc in the state since July 9 touched 23 on Tuesday. Four people, two each from Pathanamthitta and Malappuram districts, are reported missing.The state, which has been experiencing intense rain, landslides and flash floods for the past one week, will have to brace for more as heavy to extremely heavy rains of 21cm or more is forecast till Friday. Strong winds and high waves up to 15ft is forecast along Kerala coast and the state has re-issued the alert in the coastal districts advising fishermen not to venture into the sea.Through video conference from the US, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan has directed not to delay the disbursal of relief grant to the disaster-affected and the district collectors have been directed to be on alert after a review of the monsoon havoc control measures. He also directed to ensure precautionary measures to prevent outbreak of monsoon-related epidemics.Currently, 186 relief camps are functioning in the state, accommodating 26,833 members belonging to 6,065 families. Maximum number of relief camps are in Alappuzha (75) followed by Ernakulum (29), Pathanamthitta (22) and Wayanad (23). While rain havoc has left 311 houses totally damaged and 8,055 houses partially damaged incurring a loss of Rs 16.24 crore, crop damage is reported in 9,312 hectares with an estimated loss of Rs 92.86 crore, Kerala state disaster management authority (KSDMA) officials said.Meanwhile, Indian meteorological department ( IMD ) director K Santosh said, “We have issued heavy rainfall alert till Friday. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is most likely to occur in the state on till Friday”.IMD with KSDMA and Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) have also warned of strong winds from westerly direction with speed reaching 35 to 45kmph gusting to 70 kmph likely along and off Kerala coast and over Lakshadweep area. Sea condition is likely to be rough to very rough along and off Kerala coast.“Shutters of Neyyar dam in Thiruvananthapuram and Banasura Sagar in Wayanad have been opened and the residents downstream have been alerted. The situation in Idukki has not warranted the opening of shutters in Idukki and Mullaperiyar dams,” KSDMA officials said. Residents in hilly areas and low-lying areas have been advised to be cautious due to the possibility of landslides and floods with intense rains.Tourists have been alerted not to venture into hilly areas and into the sea. Parking behind trees and electric posts should be avoided and commuting along hilly terrains have to be regulated, the officials said.In the past 24 hours, Kochi airport area in Ernakulam and Kozha in Kottayam reported extremely heavy rainfall of 23cm and Piravom in Ernakulam reported 22cm rain, while Munnar and Peermade in Idukki received 20cm and 19cm rainfall, respectively.

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