Thrissur Rain: All Educational Institutions Closed Monday, Relief Camps Open

Heavy rain continued to batter several parts of Thrissur district on Sunday, aggravating waterlogging and forcing families to move to relief camps. As a precautionary measure, the district administration declared a holiday for all educational institutions on Monday, while authorities issued advisories for residents in vulnerable areas.

District Collector Shikha Surendran ordered the closure of all educational institutions, including anganwadis, nursery schools, tuition centres, madrasas, Kendriya Vidyalayas, CBSE and ICSE schools, and professional colleges, under the provisions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005. The administration clarified that scheduled examinations and interviews will be held as planned.

According to the district administration, five relief camps are currently functioning, sheltering 48 people from 16 families. The camps are located at Pulary Anganwadi in Muppiliyam village, GLPS Kodakara, Janatha UP School at Panthallur in Kodakara village, Amrita Vidyalayam at Orumanayur, and JUPS at Nellayi. Among the displaced are 16 senior citizens and a pregnant woman.

Authorities have advised children to stay away from rivers, streams, quarries and waterlogged areas. Residents have also been urged to avoid non-essential travel, and those living in landslide- and flood-prone areas have been asked to strictly follow the directions of local bodies and disaster management officials.

In Guruvayur, severe waterlogging led to a car carrying a family from Tamil Nadu plunging into a roadside canal on Gandhi Nagar Road. The family had reportedly travelled to the temple town for darshan and a choroonu ceremony. Police and local residents used ropes to retrieve the vehicle after an operation lasting nearly one-and-a-half hours. Preliminary reports indicate that the driver was following Google Maps through a flooded stretch when the vehicle slipped into the canal. No injuries were reported.

The Irrigation department issued a yellow alert for the Karuvannur River after the water level rose to a potentially dangerous level. People living along the riverbanks have been advised to remain vigilant, avoid entering or attempting to cross the river, and be prepared to shift to safer locations if directed by authorities.

Waterlogging worsened in parts of Parappookkara and Nenmanikkara grama panchayats after a large log got lodged in the shutter of the Manjamkuzhi regulator at Cheruval, obstructing the free flow of water. The blockage, located at the boundary of the two panchayats, caused water to back up and inundate nearby areas. Officials said efforts to remove the log and restore the flow of water were under way, with teams working to clear the obstruction.

The district administration is closely monitoring the situation and has urged residents to stay alert. Further updates are expected as weather conditions evolve.