Heavy rain, wind claim three lives

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Three persons lost their lives, 25 houses were damaged, and numerous power lines snapped by falling trees in the heavy rain and strong wind that intermittently lashed the capital district on Monday. Ambili, 54, who was travelling in an autorickshaw was crushed to death when an uprooted tree crashed into the vehicle near Thirumala junction. Vincent, a seller of mattresses, was electrocuted near Edapazhanji when a tree fell onto a power line and snapped it. Vincent was passing underneath at the time. At Karippur village in Nedumangad, Thulasidharan, 45, who was working in a plantain grove was electrocuted when a falling tree caused an overhead power line to snap and fall. The district administration has sanctioned Rs 10,000 as emergency aid to the families of the dead. P K Girija, Additional District Magistrate holding charge of District said that 25 houses at Poonthura, Valiathura, and Manikkavilakom were damaged in the strong rain and wind. One house had its sheet roof blown off; the family was shifted to a safe location. Transport Minister V S Sivakumar who toured the affected areas had ordered the district administration to provide all necessary assistance to the families, she said.