<span style="color: #222222;">In Kerala, Heavy rains badly affected several districts, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta. The Met Department said, an orange alert has been issued in the districts of Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki and Thrissur, indicating the possibility of heavy to very heavy rainfall. AIR Kochi Correspondent reports, a yellow alert has been issued for the remaining eight districts of the state. Kochi and neighbouring places received heavy rains since last night leaving several low-lying areas inundated. Heavy rain continued this morning as well.<br />''<br />'' Water logging was reported at several places leading to hours of traffic block in the city this morning. Proceedings of the Kerala High Court began an hour late as the nearby areas were flooded. Authorities said the water level in the rivers under the Periyar and  Muvattupuzha basins are flowing below their danger mark. The Athachamayam procession at Tripunithura, an important event marking the beginning of Onam festival in the state, was delayed for a couple of hours following heavy rain. Similarly,  heavy rains were also reported in Kottayam, Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta districts.<br />''<br />''In Kottayam, over 150 persons have been shifted to temporary relief camps. Following heavy rains in the hilly regions of Kottayam as well as Pathanamthitta,  water levels are showing a rising trend in the upper Kuttanad region of the state.</span><br />