Heavy rains in Kerala: Gulf flights delayed, diverted as Kochi airport temporarily closed

Kochi, Aug 5: Heavy rains have forced the international airport at Kochi in Kerala with dozens of flights either cancelled or diverted including many from the UAE and other gulf countries.

According to airport officials, the runway at Kochi airport has been temporarily closed because of waterlogging.

An Air India Express flight from Sharjah scheduled to land at Kochi airport at 4.25am has been delayed and according to the airport arrivals status will only be able to land there at 22.50 at night.

Another Air India flight from Sharjah scheduled to arrive at 19:00 hours has been delayed by an hour.

Several other flights have been diverted to other airports.

According to reports, a Kochi-bound Saudi Airlines flight with 300 passengers on board had to be diverted.

The airport has been shut down till tomorrow due to water-logging. One report said at least 126 flights and nearly 11,000 passengers have been affected.

Landslides claim nine lives

Nine persons died and several others were reported missing as a string of landslides triggered by heavy downpour battered the high range Idukki and adjoining districts of Kerala on Monday.

The Cochin International Airport has been temporarily closed and two flights diverted as the runway got waterlogged. Periyar river and canals are overflowing after the downpour lashed the area since Sunday.

The deceased included two children and two women as their houses on the slopes of the hills in Idukki district were swept away by flash floods, police said.

A district where most people are small and marginal farmers, Idukki also suffered heavy crop and property loss.

Several persons were reported missing as a huge mound of rock and rubble came crashing down at Chiyyappara in Idukki while relief work was on in the area where landslip occurred in the early hours.

Several vehicles were trapped in the debris and rescue work hampered as roads the district got blocked by rubble spawned by landslide and flashfloods.

"Cochin International Airport has been closed till 2.30pm as water entered the runway as the Periyar river is overflowing after shutters of the Edamalayalar dam were opened," airport director ACK Nair said.

The sandbanks of the Periyar river in Aluva, where thousands are to converge to perform the Balitharpanam ritual on Tuesday on the day of Karkitakavavu, is flooded and the Shiva temple there almost submerged.

Ernakulam district collector Sheikh Pareed said possibilities of making alternative arrangements for the conduct of the ritual were being explored and the help of Navy sought to tackle the situation.

People in affected areas have been shifted to relief camps.

Chief minister Oommen Chandy has called an emergency cabinet meeting in the state capital to review the serious situation and gear up the relief operations.

The IMD has cautioned fishermen not to venture into the sea in the next 48 hours as strong winds of 45-55 kmph could lash coastal areas along with heavy rain.