Alert levels have been upgraded to 'red' in five districts of Kerala with heavy rainfall continuing to lash the State, causing widespread damage. Rivers are in spate in many parts of the State, overflowing their banks and flooding low-lying regions. Control rooms have been opened in many districts for tackling the emergency. Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki and Thrissur are on red alert for extremely heavy rainfall (above 20 cm rainfall in 24 hours) today (Saturday), the India Meteorological Department (IMD) indicated in a 1 p.m. weather update. Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad are on orange alert today for isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall, while Kannur and Kasaragod are on yellow alert for isolated heavy rainfall. Heavy rainfall has been lashing central and southern districts of the State since the early hours of Saturday. By evening, rainfall is likely to intensify in the northern districts also. With water levels rising, several of the smaller dams in the State have started discharging water. The Idukki reservoir is on blue alert level. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is set to review the rainfall situation at 3 p.m. today. The CM's office has already issued a public alert, urging the public to avoid unnecessary travel. High alert should be maintained for the next 24 hours. People residing on the banks of rivers and streams and high ranges should remain alert, the CMO said. The CMO has also asked people not to enter water bodies and to avoid travel to hilly regions due to the possibility of landslips. Fishermen have been asked not to set out to sea till Sunday, as squally weather is expected off the Kerala coast and lakshadweep region. Heavy rainfall likely till Monday
Kerala is poised to receive isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall with isolated extremely heavy rainfall till Sunday morning under the influence of a low pressure area over the south-east Arabian Sea, the IMD Meteorological centre in Thiruvananthapuram said. Isolated heavy rainfall can be expected on Monday also, but thereafter there will be a reduction in rainfall, the weather agency said.
