Extremely heavy rains predicted in Kerala; Red, Orange alerts issued

PTI, Sep 19, 2020, 5:48 PM IST

Thiruvananthapuram: Extremely heavy rains have been forecast in Kerala’s Idukki, Kannur and Kasaragod districts on Saturday and Sunday, prompting the IMD to sound a ‘red alert’ and authorities to take precautionary steps to shift people staying in disaster-prone areas to safer places.

According to the India Meteorological Department, a low-pressure area is likely to develop over the North East Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood around September 20 and under its influence, widespread rains with isolated heavy to very heavy falls are likely over Kerala during September19-21.

Several parts of the State have been receiving heavy rains in the past few days.

Vadakara in Kozhikode received 10 cm rain, while Hosdurg in Kasaragod recorded 9 cm and Taliparambu in Kannur and Kudulu in Kasaragod received 7 cm each as per the weather report this morning.

An orange alert (a warning indicating heavy to very heavy rain) has been issued for eight districts on Saturday and six on Sunday.

In view of the alerts, the Navy, the Indian Air Force helicopters, Police, Fire Force, are all ready to swing into action in case of any emergency requests, according to sources.

In districts where the Red and Orange alerts have been issued, people living in disaster-prone areas would be shifted to camps as a precautionary measure.

During the night, as the rains are likely to intensify, people in areas prone to landslides and mudslides will be shifted to safer places during the day time itself as a precautionary measure.

Night travel in hilly areas from 7 pm to 7 am has been banned, Kerala State Disaster Management Authority said.

Fishermen have been warned not to put out to sea as strong winds with speed reaching 45-55 kmph are likely to prevail along and off Kerala, Karnataka Coasts, and over the Lakshadweep area.

A landslide triggered by heavy rains in the hilly district of Idukki on August 7 had flattened a row of dwelling units of tea estate workers at Pettimudi in Rajamalai claiming 66 lives.