Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala is likely to see more heavy showers in the coming days, the India Meteorological Department said.
The national weather agency has sounded an Yellow alert in 9 of the 14 districts in the state for two days - Saturday and Sunday.
The nine districts are Kottayam, Idukki, Pathanamthitta, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod.
An Orange alert has also been sounded in the hilly areas - especially Idukki, Pathanamthitta, eastern parts of Kottayam.
More landslides
After incessant rains in the region, several landslides were reported in central Kerala.
Three landslides were reported at Koottickal in Kottayam district - at Mlakkara, Mooppanmala and 39 Bhagham. It left scores isolated on the day.
Families living in the Mlakkara area and low-lying areas of Kottikkal, Chapath and Mundakayam were shifted to safer places.
Those who live on the banks of Pullakayar have been asked to move to safer places as the water level in the river is rising to alarming levels.
Water has already entered eight houses on the river bank.
The Mlakkara and Moopanmala bridges, which were undergoing repairs after last month's deluge, suffered damages again.
The Fire Force and the Police rushed to the spot and took precautionary measures. A unit of the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) is also camping in the area.
The second landslide reportedly hit the areas near Mukkulam in the Idukki district.
No casualties have been reported from any of the landslides.
According to reports, locals acted steadfastly seeing the water level rising in the river and alerted rescue personnel.
After a temporary bridge collapsed in floodwater, the emergency response team evacuated at least 16 persons from the region at night.
Search has been extended to find two more families believed to be trapped on a hill.
Koottickal had witnessed widespread damages to life and property in mid-October.
Kerala was battered by a slew of landslides and floods last month after record rainfall in the region.
Governor visit today
Governor Arif Mohammad Khan will visit the flood-affected areas in Kottikkal to get first-hand knowledge about the gravity of the situation.
The Governor reached the Nattakom Government Guest House in Kottayam on Friday.
By 9 am on Saturday, he will start his visit to places such as Koottikkal, Enthayar and Vamoozhi areas.
Record rainfall
This October, Kerala has received the highest rainfall recorded for the month in history (at least since 1901, the year India started documenting rainfall data).
It received 589.9 millimetres of rain, more than the previous high of 566 mm recorded in October 1999.
All districts in Kerala, except Alappuzha, had received “large excess” rainfall in October.
Large excess is defined as rainfall that is 60% above normal. Palakkad and Pathanamthitta, too, set new October records.
If the former record for Palakkad was 446 mm of rain in October 1999, this time it was 575.2 mm.
Pathanamthitta's old record was 792 mm in October 1999.
This October, the district received 866.9 mm.
The severity of the showers was so scary that in October alone Kerala received nearly 100 mm more rain than what is expected for the 92-day northeast monsoon season from October 1 to December 31.
The normal rainfall expected during the three months is 491.66 mm.
By the end of October itself, Kerala was pounded by 589.9 mm of rainfall.
No let-up in November
The IMD has therefore predicted heavy rains in November, too.
Usually, Kerala expects 150 mm of rain in November.
But by November 3 itself, Kerala has received 70 mm, nearly half the expected rains this month.
