Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 20 (PTI)

Two persons were killed and road, rail and air traffic badly hampered due to heavy rains since last night in Kerala. The rains have also caused large-scale damage to property and crops.

The two deaths were reported from Alappuzha and Kozhikode districts, the police said.

The monsoon fury was especially severe in the southern parts of the state, including the capital city and suburbs, where submerged roads and rail tracks stalled traffic for several hours in the afternoon.

Over 400 people belonging to 87 families have been shifted to four relief

Some of the incoming and outgoing flights from Karippur airport in Kozhikode were delayed due to bad weather.

Meanwhile, Revenue Minister K P Rajendran has instructed the district administration to remain alert. According to the Met office in Thiruvananthapuram, the current spell in the receding phase of the southwest monsoon was triggered by systems of low pressure formed along the Kerala and Tamil Nadu coasts.

Widespread rainfall is expected to continue in the next two days before the onset of the northeast monsoon, warned the Met office.