Idukki
As landslides and massive floods turn into an annual affair in the hill regions of Kerala, landless tea plantation workers, mostly Dalits, are most vulnerable.
The Kerala government had asked the Tamil Nadu government to release water from Mullaperiyar in a phased manner when the water level reaches 136 feet.
Despite adverse weather conditions in Pettimudi, rescue operations by NDRF, fire and police department personnel are continuing to recover bodies of more people feared trapped in the landslide, officials said.
The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority issued a red alert to Idukki, Wayanad, Thrissur and Palakkad for Saturday, while eight other district have been put on orange alert.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that landslides, flooding, mudslides were a possibility due to heavy rains that have lashed the state since Tuesday.
On Wednesday, a man died after a wall collapsed on him in Kannur, while in Kottayam rail services were disrupted due to landslide.
In the last week, these two districts have reported a rising number of cases.
The death toll in the state has climbed to 88.
Schools and colleges are shut in 6 districts of the state.