Kochi airport resumes operations after being shut for over 24 hours

After being shut for over 24 hours, the Kochi airport in Kerala resumed flight operations on Tuesday afternoon.

The Kochi airport was closed since morning due to water flooding the runway.

126 flights have been cancelled since yesterday, affecting nearly 11,000 passengers.

Flight operations were not expected to resume at least till 3:30 pm today.

"What we are told is that since some dam shutters was open on account of the heavy rains, the water level increased in and around the airport. As a result, water entered the parking bays and taxiway," a senior official at the airport said.

The famous shiva temple in Aluva being submerged in the Periyar river as it continues to flow threateningly near the danger levels. An alert has been issued in several villages around the river.

Marine divers from the Navy rescued almost 180 people from villages near Cochin on Monday.

Heavy rain in the last 48 hours has flooded the international airport in Kochi, suspending operations for at least 24 hours.

At least 126 flights have been cancelled as operations at the international airport. Around 11,000 passengers were reported to be stranded.

The airport authority had to pump out water that entered the parking bay and taxi way.

Cochin International Airport Limited director ACK Nair told IANS that this is the first time such an incident has happened since the airport opened in 1999.

After incessant heavy rain for the last 48 hours, the government in Kerala has asked the army and navy for assistance with rescue and relief operations; landslides have blocked access to a major highway in Adimali, popular with tourists.

11 bodies have been found on a stretch of National Highway 49 in Idukki in the central part of Kerala.

Several cars have flipped over and more casualties are expected, warned officials.

Doctors and ambulances have been rushed down from nearby hill towns like Munnar.

The Periyar river is flowing very close to the danger mark and the water level is rising in the Idukki and Mullaperiyar reservoirs.