The State Emergency Operations Centre has issued a high alert on the likelihood of flash floods and landslips in the wake of a warning by the Met Centre that heavy to very heavy rainfall (7 cm to 13 cm) will lash the State till Thursday morning.
The alert has been issued to the public, District Collectors, tahsildars and officials of the Forest, Tourism and Police Departments.
An official of the emergency centre said the intermittent rain during the past few days had soaked the slopes in many places, leaving them vulnerable to landslips during a heavy spell.
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“With tourism activities peaking during the summer vacation, the Ghats sections have to be monitored carefully. The authorities have been asked to prevent vehicles from stopping at vulnerable locations along the Ghats,” the official said.
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Tahsildars have been directed to make arrangements for evacuation in the event of an emergency and be prepared to open relief camps.
ThunderstormA low pressure area that has developed south of Kanyakumari is expected to trigger thunderstorm activity along the Kerala coast for the next three to four days.
Strong winds reaching 45 to 55 km/hr are likely along the Kerala coast and Lakshadweep over the 24 hours from 2 p.m. on Monday. The sea is expected to be rough during this period.
Fishermen have been advised not to venture out to sea.
Met Centre Director K. Santhosh said a trough of low pressure that was observed south of Kanyakumari had intensified into a low pressure area by Monday, promising copious rain for the southern parts of the peninsula.
The upper air cyclonic circulation extending up to 4.5 km above sea level is expected to move along the Kerala coast from south to north before tapering off.
Mr. Santhosh said the wet spell was likely to cover the Lakshadweep islands also from Tuesday.