Thiruvananthapuram: Rain continued to lash parts of Kerala on Tuesday. The India Meteorological Department has predicted that heavy rainfall (7- 11 cm in 24 hours) is very likely to occur at isolated places till Thursday.
In a revised update, an orange alert was issued in four districts on Tuesday including Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod. A yellow alert was sounded in Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad and Malappuram.
Two shutters of the Peringalkuthu Dam on Chalakkudi river in Thrissur district was raised on Tuesday.
The Thrissur Collector has sounded an alert to people residing on the banks of the Chalakudy River. Both the shutters were raised by 4 ft.
District authorities have warned people against entering the river as the water level is expected to rise. On Monday, the authorities had declared an orange alert as the water level rose to 422 metres. The first shutter was opened when the water level touched 423 metres and a red alert was declared.
The National Center for Oceanographic Studies (INCOIS) has informed that there is a possibility of high wave of 2.8 to 3.3 meters along Kerala coast (Vizhinjam to Kasaragod) till 11.30 pm on Tuesday. Fishermen have been warned against venturing into the seas from Kerala-Karnataka coast and Lakshadweep area till July 28.
Holiday in 4 districts
A holiday has been declared on Tuesday for educational institutions in four districts in the view of heavy rain.
The holiday is for the districts of Wayanad, Kozhikode, Kannur and Malappuram.
The district collectors said in separate releases that professional colleges and schools under ICSE/CBSE will also be closed on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, holiday for schools has been declared in the taluks of Vellarikundu and Hosdurg in the Kasaragod district. Colleges in the two taluks will not have the holiday.
However, the PSC examinations that were already scheduled will take place.
The heads of educational institutions have been told to make up the hours lost due to the holiday later on.
Students have been advised to stay away from water-logged areas.
Ban on mining in Wayanad
As the weather forecast warned of heavy rains in the coming days, Wayanad district collector Dr Renu Raj who is also the chairperson of the district disaster management authority, issued orders on Monday banning mining activities and construction site operations that use earthmovers in the district, with immediate effect.
The order will be in effect till further intimation in this regard, a press release said. There will not be any ban for clearing the streams, rivers, and drainages to facilitate the smooth running of water to ensure the safety of people residing alongside the banks, the release said.
Traffic restrictions
Meanwhile, the highways department banned traffic of heavy vehicles through the Mananthavady-Kaithakkal road as the protection wall to the road got damaged when the earth caved in due to heavy rain. Heavy vehicles should take deviation through the 4th Mile, a communiqué of the highways assistant engineer said.
