KERALA

The Ernakulam-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express will commence operations from Ernakulam Junction at 12:50 PM, reaching Bengaluru at 10:00 PM. On the return journey, it will depart from Bengaluru Cantt at 5:30 AM and arrive back at Ernakulam Junction at 2:20 PM.

The price of gold in Kerala today (July 31) is Rs 6,400 per gram for 22 karat gold and Rs 6,982 per gram for 24 karat gold (also called 999 gold).
 

Major landslides hit Meppadi, Mundakkai Town, and Chooral Mala early Tuesday morning (July 30). The first landslide occurred in Mundakkai Town around 1 am, followed by a second landslide near Chooralmala School at about 4 am.

A landslide and flood in Wayanad, Kerala, claimed two lives from Karnataka, with four others, including a child, missing. The deceased are Puttasiddashetty (62) and Rani Madar (50). Local authorities are searching for the missing. Additionally, four tourists from Bengaluru were affected, with two still missing. Rescue operations are ongoing.

Some areas in Kerala may be unsuitable for visitors during the monsoon season owing to high rains and associated inconveniences. Here are seven locations you might want to avoid during this period.

Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi cancelled their visit to Kerala's Wayanad district due to extreme weather conditions and heavy rainfall, following a devastating landslide that claimed several lives.

The Kerala Lotteries Department released the Monsoon Bumper BR-98 and the first prize winner will get a whopping amount of Rs 10 crore. The department conducted the draw on Wednesday (July 31) at 2 pm.

A landslide occurred in Vanimel panchayat, Kozhikode, Kerala, resulting in one person going missing. Widespread destruction happened along a 5-kilometer stretch of the river, with water entering shops and multiple shops and two bridges collapsing. 

Due to heavy rain, educational institutions in 12 Kerala districts (except Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam) are closed on July 31. Exams at Mahatma Gandhi University, University of Kerala, and PSC exams until Friday are postponed. The IMD forecasts moderate rain and gusty winds in 9 districts and light rain elsewhere in Kerala.

Rescue operations in Wayanad, Kerala, have recovered 151 bodies after a landslide, with over 200 people still reported missing by relatives. The Army and other teams have resumed rescue operations.

Currently, four columns with a total strength of approximately 225 personnel are deployed for the operation. Additionally, two more columns, comprising about 140 personnel, are on standby in Thiruvananthapuram, ready to be airlifted at short notice if required.

Heavy rains triggered a devastating landslide and flood in Kerala's Wayanad district, causing over 100 deaths and 250 missing. The death toll is suspected to cross 150. The disaster spanned 18 km, burying villages and flooding towns. Rescue operations continue amidst overwhelming hospital conditions and makeshift refugee centres. Changing climate and deforestation are major donors to these frequent natural disasters in Kerala.

According to the National Disaster Management Authority, India is highly prone to landslides due to its tectonic position. The northward movement of the Indian landmass at a rate of 5 cm/year accumulates stress, leading to natural disasters like landslides.

In response to the disaster, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced a two-day statewide mourning, set for Tuesday, July 30, and Wednesday, July 31. The Kerala Revenue Minister's office reported that the death toll from the recent landslides has risen to 118, with 116 injuries confirmed.

Districts under red alert include Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasargod, while an orange alert is in effect for Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Ernakulam.