Officials here said water level in most of the rivers was increasing alarmingly following the opening of dam shutters. With the recovery of three more bodies in Malappuram district today, the toll in the rain-related incidents has risen to 15. Bodies of a 15-year-old boy and a woman were recovered from Karal and Bharatapuzha river at Kamravattom respectively. One person was drowned when he fell into an open well.

Property and crops worth crores of rupees were damaged in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kannur and Malappuram districts. State Agriculture Minister Krishnan Kaniyamparambil directed the officials concerned to assess the damage to crops and prepare a report within three days.

Road and rail traffic were disrupted in many parts of the State. The Indian Airlines cancelled its Mumbai-Kochiflight. During the past 24 hours, Kozha in Kottayam district received the maximum of 19 cm rainfall, followed by Aryankavu (Kollam)--17 cm and Paravoor--15 cm.

A mild landslide was reported in Idukki district which was receiving heavy rainfall. In the worst hit Thiruvananthapuram district, 44 houses were fully damaged and 280 houses partially.

The Peppara dam was overflowing, posing a threat to thousands of families living along Karamana river. Affected families in these areas were shifted to relief camps. The sluice gates of Neyyar and Aruvikkara dams in Thiruvananthapuram and Thenmala in Kollam were opened yesterday.

More than 2,000 people living in low lying areas of this district were shifted to 40 relief camps. Nine new camps were set up today following the aggravation of the situation along the low-lying areas of Vamanapuram and Karamana river.

Fire force personnel were pressed into service at several places for pumping out water from low-lying areas. Power supply got snapped in various partsowing to the incessant rainfall.

The State branch of the Indian Red Cross Society distributed rice and other food items to those who have been shifted to flood relief centres. The society has opened a control room at its office to expedite relief operations.

Revenue Minister K E Ismail said that the Army would be pressed into service, if need be. The authorities have been directed to expedite relief operations. Funds have been allotted to all districts for relief operations. Medicine and food have been provided at all flood-relief centres, the Revenue Minister said. Meanwhile, the met office has predicted heavy to very heavy rain during the next 48 hours.