As extremely heavy rain triggered massive landslides in central Kerala’s Kottayam and Idukki districts on Saturday. The army is conducting rescue operations in debris in Kavali, Kottayam. Eight bodies were recovered from Koottickal in Kottayam today. Search operations continue.

Meanwhile, Navy Chopper airborne from INS Garuda reached with relief material towards rain-affected areas. Two Air Force Chopper Mi-17 are on standby at AF Station, Shangumugham: Defence PRO

Here are the highlights of the situation in Kerala and IMD warnings

The Met department predicted heavy to extremely heavy rains across the state on Saturday night. A yellow alert has been issued for heavy rain in eleven districts of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram and Kozhikode

The e-government has put the state on a red alert in six districts, banned entry to tourist destinations, and warned against traveling to hilly regions.

The Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan called for a high-level meeting on-ramp up rescue operations in places hit hard by heavy rains

The Chief secretary, police chief, revenue secretary, and district collectors reviewed the progress of rescue activities in rain-hit areas.

The rainfall experienced on Saturday was associated with mini-cloud burst events. The highest rainfall in the state on Saturday was recorded in Peermade (24cm) followed by Cheruthoni, Chalakudy, and Poonjar (14cm), Thodupuzha (13cm), and Seethathode (12cm).

The monthly pilgrimage to Sabarimala temple, which was slated to begin on Sunday, would be abandoned till October 19, the Chief Minister announced due to the weather conditions.

At Koottickal village in Kottayam district, three houses were washed away in a landslide. At Kokkayar at the high ranges of Idukki, at least seven people are missing after five houses were washed away.

Air force helicopters have been deployed for airlifting stranded people at Mallappally in Pathanamthitta.

In the last two weeks ending on October 16, the state has already recorded 331.4 mm rain as against the actual normal rainfall of 164.1 mm during the period.