Monsoon is one feature that has been enthusing travellers to Kerala for centuries. But the rain fury that wreaked havoc in the form of floods and landslides across Kerala at present has turned the seasonal phenomenon a bane for now.
Even as the rain-soaked state is gaping at the relentless and continual rainfall with a great amount of fear and concern, the met department says there is nothing abnormal in the the current scale of monsoon rainfall. Speaking to Onmanorama, K Santhosh, director, IMD, Thiruvananthapuram said it was quite natural that monsoon becomes 'active' and 'vigorous' during different seasons.
"The rain that the state is presently receiving is part of the normal monsoon. It has no other climactic implications," Santhosh said, "It's natural that monsoon can get vigorous sometimes. The state had witnessed a situation in 2013, which was worse than this."
Monsoon rains can be said to be normal if it is close to 19 per cent. The state has so far received 21 per cent rainfall, which can be only said to be slightly above normal, the weatherman said. "In 2013, the state had received 37 per cent rainfall between June 1 and August 13," Santhosh said.
The showers become strong and heavy when there are strong westerly winds which blow in the direction of the southwest monsoon. There is a strong flow of wind seven km above the earth's surface. This is also one of the factors for such a heavy rainfall, Santhosh said.
Meanwhile, there is an emergency-like situation in the state with rain making repeated spells of its onslaught, leaving a trail of devastation. The news media is flooded with reports of miseries and travails of people reeling under the perils of the flood situation. The rain fury has reportedly left as many as 47 people dead and displaced thousands.
Shutters of as many as 33 dams, which were brimming to the full reservoir limit, were opened leaving places downstream inundated. Terming the flood situation as one of the worst calamity in the history of Kerala, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan asked people to be alert and vigilant.
The government officials, the NDRF teams and the public in general are on their toes tasked with relief and rescue missions. The met department has forecast incessant rain for five more days.
Read more : Kerala battles heavy rain, flood; 33 dams open | Torrential rain pounds Kerala
