Thiruvananthapuram, March 16 (IANS) There was an inkling of arrival of summer rains in Kerala with showers reported from several parts of the state, bringing relief from the sultry heat.

According to sources in the meteorological department, in the month of March so far there has been an 85 percent shortfall in rainfall as compared to the previous years.

Palakkad, which reported a day temperature of 42 degrees Celsius in the past few days, received the heaviest rains Tuesday evening.

Rains have also been reported at Kannur, Trissur, central Kerala and a few other places.

On account of severe heat, more than three dozen people have been reported to have suffered heat burns.

The weather men had predicted that summer rains would arrive in the state latest by Tuesday and would continue Wednesday.

Met experts point out that one reason why the heat has intensified is that the rainfall in the state this January and February was 33 percent less than in the previous years.