IMD Issues Red Alert For 3 Kerala Districts As Heavy Rains Lash State
As rain lashed parts of the state, the authorities in Kerala on Sunday asked people, especially those living in hilly areas, to be vigilant. According to a PTI report, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a 'Red Alert' in light of the rain for Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, and Idukki districts for Sunday and Monday, and an 'Orange Alert' for Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, and Ernakulam.
A Red Alert indicates extremely heavy rain of over 20 cm within 24 hours, while an Orange Alert suggests 6-20 cm of rain in the same period..
The MeT office had also forecast thunderstorms with moderate rainfall and gusty winds reaching speeds of 40 km per hour in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Kannur and Kasaragod districts of Kerala till 1 pm on Sunday.
The Idukki District Collector has ordered a ban on night travel through the hilly areas of the district from Sunday until the red and orange alerts are withdrawn. According to a statement, the Superintendent of Police, Sub-Divisional Magistrates, Regional Transport Officers, and Tehsildars have been issued strict instructions to implement the ban effectively.
Aside from night travel, mining activities have been banned in Ernakulam and Kottayam districts, due to the heavy rain forecast.
The southern district of Thiruvananthapuram experienced heavy rains on Saturday night, which led to waterlogging in the city and its suburbs, affecting normal life.
According to PTI, visuals aired by news channels showed houses and shops flooded in some parts. In some areas, canals crisscrossing the capital city and its suburbs overflowed.
A resident blamed the waterlogging on the fact that "canals and drainage systems haven't received their pre-monsoon cleaning".
Meanwhile, neighbouring Tamil Nadu is also experiencing heavy rains in several parts. The regional weather office on Sunday forecast extremely heavy rain in Tenkasi, Tirunelveli and Theni districts.
Jamunamarathur (Tiruvannamalai district) and Pechiparai (Kanniyakumari) received 12 cm and 10 cm rainfall, respectively, in the 24 hours ending at 8.30 am on Sunday.
The Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) has asked tourists visiting places like Udhagamanadalam (Ooty), Tenkasi, Hogenakkal (Dharmapuri) and others in the Western Ghats to follow safety instructions and precautions.
The Regional Meteorological Centre Chennai issued a Red Alert for Tenkasi, Tirunelveli and Theni districts on Sunday and Monday.