Thiruvananthapuram. Heavy rains lashed Kerala on Sunday, causing trees to uproot at several places across the state. A tree fell on a moving train in Thrissur, while a person died after a tree fell on him in Kozhikode, officials said. According to officials, heavy rains lashed many parts of the state due to the activation of the southwest monsoon. Houses were damaged in several areas due to the rains, rivers overflowed and as a result the gates of some dams were opened.

On Sunday morning, a tree fell on a moving train near a railway bridge in Cheruthuruthy in Thrissur district. Officials said the loco pilot showed presence of mind and stopped the train, averting an accident. He said there were no reports of casualties in the incident. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a 'red alert' for five northern districts of the state - Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod - and forecast extremely heavy rains due to continued heavy rains.

Almost all the districts of the state received heavy rains since last night, causing heavy waterlogging in low-lying areas and disrupting traffic. Large scale uprooting of trees across the state caused heavy damage to houses and vehicles and one person died in Kozhikode district. A coconut tree fell on 64-year-old Pavithran in Villiyappally, Kozhikode, killing him.

People said that the water level in the Punnapuzha river flowing through the Chooralmala-Mundakkai area of ????Wayanad and the Korapuzha river in Kozhikode is continuously rising after continuous rains. Continuous heavy rains in Chooralmala of Wayanad, affected by landslides, last night caused concern among the locals. Meanwhile, the IMD on Sunday issued an 'orange alert' for Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Palakkad districts.