Gusty winds and heavy rain hit Thiruvananthapuram district

Thiruvananthapuram: A powerful spell of heavy rain and gusty winds struck the capital district on Friday night, causing widespread destruction, power outages, and traffic disruptions that lasted into Saturday morning. Despite the extensive damage, no casualties were reported. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), winds reached up to 59 km/h between 8pm and 11pm, prompting a red alert. By Saturday, conditions had eased, though an orange alert remained in place. Thiruvananthapuram city recorded 86.77 mm of rain, while the airport registered 96 mm in the last 12 hours till 8pm.The storm uprooted trees, damaged homes and flooded roads. A major incident occurred near the Press Club, where a massive banyan tree fell and damaged part of the roof. At Karyavattom, strong winds tore off a section of the Greenfield International Stadium's roof. In Fort, a tree crashed onto the taluk hospital's pharmacy roof, raising concerns about the safety of stored medicines. Roads were blocked by fallen trees in PTP Nagar and Sasthamangalam.Fire and rescue teams promptly cleared debris at all reported sites. In Kanakakunnu, a tree damaged three vehicles parked for the "Ente Keralam" exhibition. Power outages worsened as branches fell onto electric lines, including a snapped line near Pullanimukku. Tree falls disrupted traffic at multiple locations such as Pettah, Kowdiar, Peroorkada, Chennilode, and Vizhinjam Mukkola Junction.Twelve houses were completely destroyed and over 30 were partially damaged, especially in rural and suburban areas. banana plantations and vegetable farms were destroyed, leading to heavy losses. Flooding affected several parts of the city, including Thampanoor, Chackai, Beemapally, and Pattom.Emergency teams were deployed to clear drains and remove fallen trees. In Nedumangad, several homes were hit by tree falls, prompting rescue and repair operations. Disaster management authorities have urged residents to stay alert, especially in flood-prone and landslide-prone areas. The IMD has warned of the possibility of isolated rainfall in the coming days.