Thiruvananthapuram, August 9: All educational institutions including professional colleges at Kothamangalam, Kunnathunad, Aluva, Paravur Taluk, and Kadamakkudy will remain closed on Friday due to the heavy rainfall and floods in various parts of Kerala, according to media reports. As per latest updates, 24 people have lost their lives due to the floods.

Union Minister KJ Alphons, on Thursday, said that "There has been unprecedented floods in Kerala since y'day & incessant rains for 2 weeks. It is the biggest rain we had in 50 years.22 people died.Armed forces to fly to Kerala immediately,6 central rescue teams already there. All the dams opened (sic)."

Also, six flood rescue teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed in Ernakulam, Alappuzha, Wayanad, Kozhikode and Palakkad to carry out Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) work.

News agency ANI, tweeted about the declaration of holidays in schools and colleges in several districts. Check the tweet below:

Army has also been deployed in three columns of approximate strength of 75 persons each at Ayannkulu, Idukki and Wayanad. Two additional columns have been requisitioned and are moving to Kozikode and Malappuram. Three Engineer Task Force to be deployed soon.

Southern Naval Command has also sent four diving teams & one Sea King helicopter to Wayanad for evacuating stranded people. See the pictures below:

Kerala state electricity board on Friday issued third red alert in Idukki reservoir. The dam will be opened on Friday morning to maintain the water level. At 4 pm on Thursday, the water level was 2399.56 ft.

On Thursday, Over 100 houses were vacated and 12 camps have been urgently opened at Paravur Taluk. Around 951 people have rehabilitated in the district as the low-lying residential areas like Pathalam and Eloor have been submerged in water, reported news agency ANI.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 09, 2018 08:09 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).