More rain to batter Kerala after deadly floods, red alert sounded in 3 districts
The India Meteorological Department on Thursday issued a red alert for three Kerala districts, days after severe flooding left at least 18 people dead in
The India Meteorological Department on Thursday issued a red alert for three Kerala districts, days after severe flooding left at least 18 people dead in the state. The warning, issued at 1 pm, was for Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and Idukki, with the department forecasting extremely heavy rain and strong winds. An orange alert was also issued for the day in Kollam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Kannur and Kasaragod. A red alert denotes extremely heavy rainfall of over 204 mm in 24 hours, while an orange alert indicates very heavy rainfall ranging between 115 mm and 204 mm. Read Full Story Officials said floodwaters have started receding from several low-lying areas in Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and Ernakulam districts.
However, flooding continues in Upper Kuttanad and Kuttanad regions of Alappuzha district, though water levels have begun to decline gradually. According to the Alappuzha district administration, 118 relief camps are functioning in Cherthala, Ambalapuzha, Kuttanad, Karthikappally, Mavelikkara and Chengannur taluks. A total of 5,012 families comprising 14,646 people are staying in these camps. Major road links, including the Alappuzha-Changanassery road and the Ambalapuzha-Thiruvalla road, remain inundated, disrupting the movement of people and goods. District administrations have declared holidays for educational institutions in flood-affected areas. An orange alert has also been sounded for Friday in Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod districts.
The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority advised people not to enter rivers and other water bodies for bathing, fishing or any other purpose during the heavy rain. It also urged the public to avoid non-essential travel during periods of intense rain and to stay away from waterfalls, reservoirs and hilly tourist destinations until the weather warnings are withdrawn. Motorists have been advised to exercise caution on roads near water bodies and on stretches under repair because of the increased risk of accidents during heavy rain. The authority also cautioned people against gathering on bridges over rivers and other water bodies for sightseeing or taking selfies, asked them to avoid night travel to hilly regions, and warned of accidents caused by uprooted trees and damaged electricity poles due to strong winds.
Overall, Kerala continued to face heavy rain warnings on Thursday, with red and orange alerts in several districts, floodwaters receding in some areas, flooding persisting in parts of Alappuzha, and authorities continuing relief and safety measures. Ends
The BriefWire