Kerala disaster management authority issues 'Red Alert' for Kasargod and Idukki today; 'Orange Alert' for six districts in coming days

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala State Disaster Management Authority has issued a “Red Alert” for Kasargod district for 20-21 July, Idukki district for 21 July and Kannur, Wayanad, Kozhikode, Malappuram districts for 22 July. A Red alert denotes likelihood of very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall. [caption id=“attachment_4946591” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. PTI[/caption] While Orange Alert has also been issued for Kasargod for 22-24 July, Kannur for 20-21 July and 23-24 July, Wayanad for 23 July, Kozhikode for 20,21 and 23 July, 20, 23 July for Malappuram and Idukki for 20, 22, 23 July. Orange weather warning means “be prepared to face any situation arising out of severe weather condition”. Seven fishermen are reported missing as rains intensified and lashed several parts of Kerala for the third day on Saturday under the influence of the southwest monsoon. Heavy rains have been predicted in the state and there is a red alert in some districts of the state. Due to the heavy rainfall, shutters of four dams have been opened. The state government has set up scores of relief camps across the state. Three missing fishermen are from Kollam’s Neendakara district and the remaining are from Vizhinjam of Thiruvananthapuram districts. In order to control the swelling water which is nearing the full capacity because of the relentless rain, two shutters of Malankara dam situated in Idukki and nine shutters of Bhuthathankettu in Ernakulam district and one shutter of each Kallarkutty and Pamba dams were opened in the morning on Friday. Scores of families residing near the coastal line have been evacuated from affected areas and have been shifted to relief camps set up by the authorities. In Kannur, dozens of house near the Thavakkara railway station were waterlogged and the locals were shifted to relief centres. Besides, trees are reported to have been uprooted in several isolates pockets of the states causing soil erosion.