Nine washed away in flash floods in Kerala

Nine persons, including five of a family, were washed away

in flashfloods triggered by heavy rains in Kozhikode and Kannur districts in

north Kerala, official sources said today.Eight of the deaths were reported in Pulloorampara hill

region of Kozhikode district where flash floods washed away some houses

yesterday, while a boy drowned in floodwaters in Kannur district this morning.About 40 houses have been damaged in the flash floods in

Pullorampara where the heavy downpour also triggered four landslips resulting

in road blocks.An elderly couple, their daughter-in-law and two

grandchildren, including a three-year-old boy, were swept away by the deluge in

Kozhikode yesterday.Three other bodies were recovered by rescue teams from

different areas in and around Kozhikode, officials said.In neighbouring Kannur district, nine-year-old Akshay was

swept away by the swirling flood waters in Iritty.Rehabilitation work is on in full swing and people from low

lying areas have been evacuated to safer places in the two districts even as

the threat of further landslips loomed large in Iritty region, officials said.The Malabar region, including Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and

Kasargod districts, has been experiencing heavy rains since last night.Kerala Chief minister Oommen Chandy, who is in Delhi, said

the state government would provide all help to the people affected by the flash

floods in the two districts.State Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan visited

Iritty region and assured all assistance to the affected.Officials said Pazhassi dam near Iritty was overflowing and

about 120 shops in the town and Sreekantapuram have been inundated.