Rain: Traffic badly hit by uprooted trees

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The vehicular traffic on the city roads was badly affected on Wednesday after heavy rains and strong winds which lashed the city resulted in uprooting of several trees at different places.The Fire and Rescue personnel in the city had a busy day removing the trees and restoring the traffic. In many cases, the Fire and Rescue personnel had to toil for hours before they were able to remove the uprooted trees. The number of trees which were uprooted in the city limits alone exceeded 20.The major places where trees were uprooted included Keltron junction near Vellayambalam, Valsala Nursing Home near Vazhuthacaud, Pallimukku near Pangode Military Camp, Manjadimukku near Vattiyoorkavu and Central Prison at Poojapura. The power supply in various places were also affected after trees fell on electric lines.  Several buses parked in the KSRTC’s garage at Fort were damaged after three trees fell over the vehicles.   The Fire and Rescue personnel of the Rajaji Nagar unit who rushed to the spot had to work for over eight hours before they finally removed the trees. According to sources, about seven trees were uprooted at Nedumangad, four at Attingal and three each at Kattakada and Vizhinjam.The count of uprooted trees kept on increasing late into the night as there was no respite from rains. ElectrocutedAn lineman of the KSEB at Neyyatinkara was electrocuted while repairing the electric line which was damaged in the rain.  The deceased was identified as Binu, 35, of Koottappana near Neyyatinkara. He died while repairing the electric line at Perumbazhuthoor. He is survived by wife Suraja and a child.