IMD issues orange alert in 4 districts of Kerala
Kerala: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on August 17 issued an orange alert in four districts of Kerala, forecasting heavy rains and strong winds for the next five days. Earlier on Saturday, many parts of the state received intermittent rains, causing water levels in several rivers, including the Manimala and Pamba, to rise. According to the latest update from the IMD, an orange alert has been issued predicting very heavy rains in Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki and Ernakulam districts on Saturday. In addition, Kottayam, Idukki and Kozhikode and Pathanamthitta and Ernakulam districts have been put under orange alert on Sunday and Monday respectively. According to the details, the orange alert indicates very heavy rainfall ranging from 11 cm to 20 cm. Among other information, the Central Water Commission (CWC) has issued an orange alert on the banks of the Manimala river in Kottayam district as the water level has risen to dangerous levels. In view of the warning, officials have asked people living on its banks to be extra cautious and not to cross the water body. Officials have also warned of sea intrusion on various coasts and asked people living in coastal settlements to be extra vigilant. They have also urged people to completely avoid travelling through high peaks at night and not to enter rivers during heavy rains. People have been urged to remain vigilant and officials have directed those living in dilapidated houses to move to safer places.
Wayanad on the radar:
Earlier on August 15, the IMD had issued a heavy rain warning in Wayanad district, where over 230 people were killed in a landslide triggered by heavy rains on July 30.
The weather department has predicted heavy rain (7 cm to 11 cm in 24 hours) to very heavy rain (12 cm to 20 cm in 24 hours) at one or two places in Ernakulam, Thrissur and Kasaragod.
