For the third successive day, heavy rains lashed Kerala triggering fresh landslides and adding to the woes of a state battling the worst flooding in 94 years.

Operations in Kochi airport has been suspended till Saturday since the inflow of water is still on a rising trend.

A Kochi Airport spokesperson said flights are being diverted to other airports as the state has been battered by torrential rains since 8th of this month.

Efforts are on to train out the stormwater from the International Airport. The air India flights will continue operations from Thiruvananthapuram airport.

Landslides hit several places in Malabar including Wayanad, Kannur, Kozhikode and Malappuram districts. The low lying areas in Ernakulam district are under water due to the outflow if water from three major dams.

Six people were killed today in rain fury and among them three are in  Malappuram, one each in Thiruvananthapuram, Idukki and Pathanamthitta districts taking the total death toll to 44 since 8th of this month.

Thirty-three Dams out of 39 Dams have been opened. Red have been issued in 12 districts and orange in Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam. Due to heavy flooding in and around the area, the Cochin international airport is closed for next four days.

The met department have predicted heavy rains till  August 18, across all districts in Kerala. More relief camps are being opened. Rescue operations are progressing in war footing.

With increased water flow into the Idamalayar, Idukki and Mullaperiyar dams late Tuesday night due to incessant rains, authorities began to evacuate about 5,000 persons living in and around the two reservoir.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan called high-level meeting to assess the rain situation.