Thiruvananthapuram, Sept. 21 -- At least nine persons have died in separate rain-related incidents across three districts of Keralam since Sunday, officials said, with chief minister VD Satheesan instructing disaster management officials and district collectors to assess the situation on an hourly basis.

CM Satheesan flew to Nilambur in Malappuram district on Monday evening to take stock of the relief and rescue efforts in Pookkottumpadam where six persons, part of a group of tourists, drowned in a flash flood in the Kottapuzha river the previous day. While the bodies of five persons have been retrieved, the remains of a woman are yet to be recovered.

Although the area is not officially a tourist spot, the group, who travelled from Wand...