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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Remarks against St Francis Xavier: Right-wing speaker Gautam Khattar gets bail
Panaji (PTI): A court in Goa on Saturday granted bail to right-wing speaker Gautam Khattar, who was arrested after he allegedly made derogatory comments against St Francis Xavier.
Judicial Magistrate First Class, Vasco, granted regular bail to Khattar, currently admitted to Goa Medical College and Hospital at Bambolim for treatment of chest pain after he was shifted from the District Hospital in Mapusa two days back.
A row erupted after a video of remarks by Khattar, the founder of Sanatan Mahasangh, at an event on April 18 in the presence of Swami Brahmeshanand, State Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho and BJP MLAs Sankulp Amonkar and Daji (Krishna) Salkar, went viral.
St Francis Xavier is revered as the patron saint of Goa.
The controversial remarks led to the Vasco Police registering an FIR against Khattar on charges of hurting religious sentiments and creating enmity between groups.
He was detained in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, by local police. His custody was later handed over to the Goa Crime Branch, according to officials.
