The Indian Metrological Department (IMD) issued an orange signal for nine districts and a red alert for seven districts in Kerala on Tuesday as heavy rains lashed the southern state. The National Weather Service has forecast exceptionally heavy rain over the state. The IMD has also rescinded red alerts that had been issued in various states in recent days.
Alert Issued in Several Districts of Kerala
The districts of Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod were all issued an orange alert today. Tomorrow, however, there is no orange alert for Ernakulam and Idukki.
The State Disaster Management Authority of Kerala said on Tuesday that the cyclonic circulation that was in the Lakshadweep area had moved towards Kerala and forecast isolated heavy rains in some parts of the state, adding to the weather office's prediction.
Squally weather with gusts up to 60 kmph is expected to prevail over the Gulf of Mannar, Comorin area, along with and off the south Tamil Nadu coast, and adjoining the southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining Southeast Arabian Sea, Andaman Sea, and adjoining southeast and the east-central Bay of Bengal, according to the weatherman.
The state government held a conference of district collectors and gave directives to deal with any eventualities, even though the arrival of the Southwest monsoon is predicted only by the end of this month. Five teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have already been deployed to Kerala.
A red alert means heavy to extremely heavy rainfall of more than 20 cm in 24 hours, while an orange alert means very heavy rains ranging from 6 to 20 cm. A yellow notice implies that 6 to 11 cm of rain is expected. The State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) has advised residents to avoid rivers and other bodies of water until the rains have stopped.
SDMA issues advisories
The SDMA has also advised people not to go to hilly areas unless necessary and avoid night travel until the rain stops. People living near coastal areas have also been advised by district governments.
The IMD had earlier predicted that the Southwest monsoon, popularly known as Edavapathy in Kerala, will arrive five days ahead of schedule on May 27, five days earlier than usual.
