Eight persons were killed, four of them children, as heavy rains pounded many parts of Kerala causing extensive loss and destruction, throwing up road and rail traffic disruptions.

Two siblings were buried alive in a landslide at Mukkam in Kozhikode district while two other children died of injuries from a house collapse at Edvannappara in Malappuram, police sources said.

Landslips in different places were reported to have claimed four lives and few others missing in Kozhikode, Wayanad and Idukki districts.

The rail traffick between Ernakulam and Kottayam came to a halt since Monday night after mounds of earth crashed on the track at Kuruppanthara in Kottayam district.

Long-distance and passenger trains to and from Thiruvananthapuram were diverted via Alappuzha till the track was restored for traffic, a railway divisional spokesman said in Thiruvananthapuram.

Heavy rains battering the central and northern districts inflicted heavy property and crop losses, especially in upland farmbelts of Kozhikode, Wayanad, Malappuram and Idukki districts.

A holiday has been declared for schools in Kozhikode, Wayanad and Malappuram districts.