Power supply, traffic hit in heavy rainfall on Friday evening in Thiruvananthapuram city

The heavy rainfall and wind that lashed the city on Friday evening led to power outages and traffic disruption in several areas.

Fire and Rescue Services responded to alerts concerning broken tree branches from across the city. No casualties were reported in any of these incidents, according to the Fire and Rescue Services units at Chenkalchoola and Chakka.

A broken tree branch crashed down on parked motorcycles at Valiyavila. A section of a wall collapsed at Mudavanmugal. No one was hurt in either incident.

Incidents regarding broken tree branches were also reported from nearby the Cliff House compound, and Kaimanam, Kowdiar, Parottukonam, Kudapanakunnu, Thirumala and Arayalloor.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had put Thiruvananthapuram district on red alert for extremely heavy rainfall in a Nowcast alert for three hours issued at 5 p.m. on Friday. This was scaled down to orange alert by 7 p.m. with the rainfall reducing in intensity.

The District Administration had decided to raise five shutters of the Aruvikkara dam by 10 cm each with the catchment areas of the dam receiving heavy rainfall. People residing near the Aruvikkara dam were advised to remain alert.

This summer season, Thiruvananthapuram district has received 52% excess rainfall during the March 1-May 2 period, show IMD data.