Heavy rains in Kerala disrupts normal life
Thiruvananthapuram, July 16 : Heavy rains pounded Kerala on Monday disrupting normal life with more rainfall predicted till Wednesday, weather officials said.
In Alappuzha district's Chandriroor, an uprooted fell on top of the last bogey of the Thiruvananthapuram-bound Mangalore Express, but there were reports of any injuries.
The train moved after a three hour delay.
It has been raining in several districts for the past 36 hours and as a result more than 3,000 people have been rehabilitated in relief camps.
All educational institutions in eight of the 14 districts were closed on Monday and most of the university examinations were postponed.
The worst affected districts include Alappuzha, Idukki, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kottayam, Kollam and Kochi. The Met Department has issued an alert for the coastal districts, warning fishermen not to venture in the rough seas.
Alerts were also issued in the hilly areas warning of possible landslides. Buses to Karnataka via Wayanad district have been suspended.
State Revenue Minister E. Chandrasekheran has directed his department and the district authorities to take stock of the estimated loss. So far three deaths have been reported.
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EC-TMC meet ends on bitter note; CEC asks TMC delegation to 'get lost', MP accused of 'shouting'
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New Delhi (PTI): The meeting between a Trinamool Congress delegation and the full bench of the Election Commission on Wednesday culminated on an acrimonious note, with the TMC saying the panel's chief asked them to "get lost" at the end of the seven-minute meeting, while the EC accused them of "shouting".
After the meeting, TMC's Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien told mediapersons that they handed over letters from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, and also apprised him of specific instances of poll officials having links with the BJP.
"Then he said, 'Get lost'. We have done eight to nine meetings with the Election Commission. Apart from the CEC, none of the other election commissioners spoke," O'Brien said.
"While we were walking out, one of my colleagues congratulated Gyanesh Kumar for being the only CEC to have notices moved in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha for his removal," O'Brien MP said.
Meanwhile, sources in the Election Commission said the poll panel chief gave a "straight talk" to TMC leaders.
They accused O'Brien of shouting at the election commissioners and alleged that he asked the CEC not to speak.
The EC sources further said the elections in West Bengal would be "fear-free, violence-free, intimidation-free, and inducement-free."
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