Thiruvananthapuram: Heavy rains and strong winds are expected to lash parts of Kerala in the coming days under the influence of a low-pressure area off the south Andaman Sea and adjoining Bay of Bengal. Heavy rains are also expected in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and south coastal Andhra Pradesh till December 3, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
A red alert has been declared in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha districts on December 3, according to the IMD. An orange alert has been issued for Kottayam, Ernakulam and Idukki districts.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan urged people to be extremely vigilant.
The Chief Minister, while asking people to be extremely vigilant, said relief camps would be set up from Thiruvananthapuram to Ernakulam districts, he said.
The Navy and Coast Guard have been requested to keep their ships ready about 30 nautical miles from the Kerala coast and the Air Force, to keep their aircraft ready for any rescue operations.
Seven additional NDRF teams have been sought from the centre, Vijayan told reporters.
Following forecast of heavy rains, there are possibilities of low lying areas getting flooded and landslides in hilly areas, he said.
Fishermen have been asked not to venture out to sea from midnight tonight.
With the two month long pilgrimage season at the hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa at Sabarimala on, authorities have been asked to be extremely vigilant, Vijayan said.
Heavy rains have been forecast as a low-pressure area lies over South Andaman and adjoining areas of Southeast Bay of Bengal and Equatorial Indian ocean, an IMD release said.
It is very likely to concentrate into a depression during the next 36 hours and likely to intensify further thereafter, the IMD said.
The formation was likely to move west-northwestwards and reach south Tamil Nadu coast on December 2, IMD said adding it was "monitoring the situation".
The government has directed the district collectors to be vigilant and take precautionary measures.
Red alert indicates heavy to very heavy rainfall of over 20 cm in 24 hours, an Orange alert (6 cm to 20 cm) and yellow alert (6-11 cm).
(With inputs from PTI)
