Kochi: The cyclone MAHA intensified into a severe cyclonic storm, the India Meteorological Department said. Following heavy rains in Kerala, yellow alert has been issued for three districts of Kerala including Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod on Friday.
Following heavy rains the district collectors in Kannur and Kasaragod have declared a holiday for all educational institutions on Friday. While Kannur University and M G University have also postponed exams scheduled for Friday, in Kasaragod exams will be conducted as per schedule.
In Malappuram, coastal taluks of Ponani, Thirur and Thirurangadi will have all the educational institutions closed on Friday.
In Thrissur district, Kodungallur and Chavakad taluks will have holiday for all educational institutions. No change in schedule for University exams in Malappuram and Thrissur.
A yellow alert has been issued in Lakshadweep on Friday.
According to an IMD bulletin published on November 1, 2019, the severe cyclonic storm MAHA over eastcentral Arabian Sea and adjoining Lakshadweep area moved north-northwestwards with a speed of 12 kmph in the early hours of Friday. The cyclone was 320 km north-northwest of Aminidivi in Lakshadweep and 500 km northwest of Kozhikode at 02:30am on Friday.
The cyclone which is likely to move northwestwards will mostly intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm over eastcentral Arabian Sea during next 24 hours, the IMD bulletin adds.
Gale wind speed reaching 95-105 kmph gusting to 115 kmph is prevailing over eastcentral Arabian Sea around the system centre. It is likely to becoming 110-120 kmph gusting to 130 kmph by 1st November morning. Squally wind speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph is likely along and off Kerala- Karnataka coasts.
Sea conditions over Lakshadweep area and adjoining southeast Arabian Sea will be high to very high during the next 24 hours and rough to very rough in the subsequent 24 hours.
Fishermen were advised not to venture over eastcentral Arabian Sea till November 4, IMD said.
The public has been advised to shift to safer places and avoid parking vehicles below trees.
Tourists are prohibited from visiting the Cochin beach in the event of the worsening weather. Night travel has been banned in mountainous terrain from 6am to 6pm. The collector has requested travellers to refrain from using these roads, barring emergency situations.
MAHA is the fourth cyclone in the Arabian Sea in the recent years after Cyclones Vayu, Hikka and Kyarr.
Cyclone Maha will follow the path of Cyclone Ockhi which had devastated Sri Lanka in 2017, while touching upon Kerala briefly, the Met department informed. However, the cyclone is unlikely to have the same devastating impact as Ockhi, the weather agency added.
Important contact numbers
The state government has issued emergency number 1077 for all rehabilitation related enquiries. The Thiruvananthapuram collectorate control room numbers are 0471 2730067, 0471 2730045, 9497711281(M).
Thiruvananthapuram-Talukwise helpline numbers
Thiruvananthapuram -0471 2462006, 9497711282
Neyyatinkara- 0471 222222, 9497711283
Kattakada-0471 2291414, 9497711284
Nedumangad-0472 2802424, 9497711285
Varkala- 0470 2613222, 9497711286
Chirayinkeezhu- 0470 2622406, 9497711287
ADM office- 0471 2731188
