Kochi Airport shut till Saturday as heavy rain lashes Kerala

The death toll in Kerala has risen to 44 and there is no let up in heavy rains.

Image: Wikipedia

New Delhi: As Kerala continues to be pounded by torrential rains, the Kochi airport has been shut down for four days. The operations of the airport have been suspended till Saturday afternoon.

Kerala: Kochi airport shut till August 18, 2 pm due to heavy rains. #Keralarains pic.twitter.com/NXNr9iem3u

— ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2018

Indian Meteorological Department has issued red alert in Kerala (heavy to very heavy rainfall in most places) for Wayanad, Kozhikode, Kannur, Kasargode, Malappuram, Palakkad, Idukki and Ernakulam Districts till tomorrow, reports ANI.

#Kerala Heavy and incessant rain continues to lash the state; Visuals from Kochi's Eloor pic.twitter.com/mDLfRVp1fB

— ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2018

Flights are being diverted to other airports as the state has been battered by torrential rains since August 8. The Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL), which decided to suspend the arrival operations at 4 am to 7 am today as a precautionary measure, had earlier said the airport would be shut till 2 pm. It later issued another advisory saying the operations have been suspended till Saturday. The death toll in Kerala has risen to 44 and there is no let up in heavy rains.