Heavy rain triggered by a depression in the Bay of Bengal drenched Kerala on Tuesday, inundating low lying areas and damaging houses and property, even as weathermen forecast favourable conditions for the onset of the South West monsoon over the Andaman sea, Nicobar islands, and parts of South Bay of Bengal over the next 24 hours.
High waves battered the coastal areas, eroding beaches, damaging moored boats and fishing gear, and sending seawater surging into houses. As many as 166 families were relocated to relief camps. Hundreds of houses were damaged, according to unofficial estimates.
Met warning
The India Met Department has warned that heavy (exceeding 7 cm) to very heavy (exceeding 13 cm) rain is likely at isolated places in the State on Wednesday and Thursday. According to a mid-day bulletin issued by the IMD, squally wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph would prevail along and off Kerala and Lakshadweep during the next 48 hours. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea.
The district administration in Thiruvananthapuram and Alappuzha has been put on high alert following heavy coastal erosion. Four relief camps were opened in Alappuzha to relocate 149 families displaced by the raging sea. Heavy erosion was reported from West Village, Purakad, Cherthala, Kuthiyathode, and Pattanakad. As many as 24 families in Thiruvananthapuram have been accommodated in two relief camps at Valiathura and Adimalathura.
Highest rainfall
Konni and Thiruvananthapuram city recorded the highest rainfall of 7 cm each on Tuesday. A high-level meeting convened by Chief Secretary S.M. Vijayanand reviewed the situation across the State and issued directions to District Collectors to take precautionary measures.
The government has made arrangements to ensure the services of the Navy, Coast Guard, Army, ITBP, Fire and Rescue Services and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for emergency operations. A State-level control room has been established at the Commissionerate of Land Revenue here (Ph: 0471-2331639). Control rooms have been opened in all districts and taluks.
VS, Sudheeran seek relief
Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan and KPCC president V.M. Sudheeran urged the government to take steps to provide relief to the stricken families in the coastal areas.
Meanwhile, the well marked low pressure area over north Sri Lanka and adjoining Gulf of Mannar and southwest Bay of Bengal moved north-northwestwards, concentrated into a depression and lay centred over southwest Bay of Bengal about 240 km south-southeast of Chennai.
The system is likely to move north- northwestwards during the next 12 hours and northwards thereafter along north Tamil Nadu and south coastal Andhra Pradesh coast and is likely to further intensify into a deep depression during next 48 hours.
High waves likely
The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) warned of high waves in the range of 2.5 - 2.7 metres along the Kerala coast between Vizhinjam and Kasaragod up to Thursday midnight.
