IMD issues orange alert for six districts of Kerala today, warns heavy rainfall to lash state till 16 Nov

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for six districts of Kerala for today and five districts on Sunday, 14 November. According to the IMD bulletin, heavy rainfall will continue to lash Kerala till 16 November. The six districts are Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam and Idukki while the five are Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam and Idukki. Incessant rains lashed several parts of Kerala since 12 November night, causing water-logging in low-lying areas and minor landslips in high ranges. Meanwhile, Idukki district Collector said the shutters of the Cheruthoni Dam of the Idukki reservoir might be opened on Saturday or Sunday in case the rain continues in the district. The Collector warned the people living downstream of the Idukki dam and along the banks of Periyar river to remain cautious. A ‘yellow alert’ warning heavy rainfall was sounded for Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur, Wayanad and Kasaragod districts. Thunderstorm coupled with lightning is also very likely to occur at one or two places in Kerala till 16 November, an IMD statement said. The IMD website says Kerala has received 86 percent excess rainfall during the period of 1 to 12 October. The normal rainfall expected from 1 to 12 October was 392.9 mm, however, the state has so far received 732.4 mm rain during the said period, the website said.   Widespread destruction was reported in Thiruvananthapuram district, which is witnessing continuous heavy rains since last night prompting the district authorities to sound vigil for people. Mud fell on the rail track in Thiruvananthapuram-Nagarcovil route and a portion of a bridge in the national highway in Neyyattinkara, a nearby suburb, was washed away in heavy rains. Rainwater entered shops in the coastal hamlet of Vizhinjam as a canal there overflew. The high ranges of the district especially Vithura, Ponmudi, Nedumangadu, Palode and so on are witnessing incessant rains. Meanwhile, the shutters of Aruvikkara and Peppara dams here were raised in the morning, the district authorities added. A Red alert indicates heavy to extremely heavy rains of over 20 cm in 24 hours, while an Orange alert denotes very heavy rains from 6 cm to 20 cm of rains. A yellow alert means heavy rainfall between 6 to 11 cm. With inputs from PTI