Kerala rain: IMD revises forecast, sounds orange alert in Ernakulam, Kozhikode

Thiruvananthapuram: With the onset of southwest monsoon, Kerala is likely to receive heavy to very heavy rain till Friday, predicted the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The Met office has revised its forecast and soudned an orange alert in Ernakulam and Kozhikode on Monday. An orange alert indicates isolated heavy rainfall ranging from 115.6 mm to 204.4 mm within 24 hours.

As per the latest forecast, light to moderate rainfall will occur at Ernakulam, Kottayam, Thrissur, Kozhikode and Alappuzha districts within a few hours. A yellow alert is sounded in Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Wayanad and Kannur on Monday.

“ Heavy (7- 11 cm in 24 hours) rainfall is very likely to occur at isolated places in Kerala from June 3 to 6.  Thunderstorm with lightning accompanied by gusty winds with speed reaching 30-40 Kmph, is very likely to occur at one or two places in Kerala till June 6,” reads the IMD alert.

In Kozhikode, heavy rain is battering hilly areas like Thamarassery from Monday morning. According to reports, Thamarassery town flooded in the incessant rain.

Yellow alert in districts
June 3 - Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Wayanad, Kannur
June 4 -  Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Kannur
June 5 - Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur, Kasaragod
June 6 -Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, Kasaragod
June 7 - Alappuzha, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur, Kasaragod

Holiday for schools in Kottayam
The district authorities have declared holiday for schools operating as relief camps in Kottayam, Kollam and Pathanamthitta on Monday. Around 582 people belonging to 182 families have been shifted to relief camps in Kottayam district following heavy rains and floods, district authorities said. A total of 33 relief camps have been opened so far in Kottayam, Kanjirappally, Vaikom and Changanassery taluks.

Kottayam District Collector declared holiday on Monday for schools for converting the buildings into relief camps. All schools under Thiruvarppu panchayat will not open for the new academic year on Monday. Veloor St.John LPS, Pulinakkal St. John UPS, Kallupurakkal Govt. LPS and Govt.UPS are the other schools that are operating as relief camps in the district.

In Kollam, Govt. UPS Kumranchira, Govt. UPS Thenmala, Govt. LPS Azhakiyakavu, Amritha UPS Parvumba and Meenakshivilasam Govt. LPS, Peroor are the schools that will remain shut.
Meanwhile, the Pathanamthitta district collector has announced a holiday for all schools that are operating as relief camps in the district.

In view of the weather forecast, the state Disaster Management Authority cautioned people against the possible threats of landslides and mudslides in hilly areas and urged them to shift to safer places if necessary. People living in low-lying areas, where waterlogging occurs frequently, should move to relief camps after assessing the rain situation, it said. Due to the possibility of strong winds, people who live in dilapidated houses should also move to safer places, it said. Night travel through the hilly areas should be avoided completely, the authorities added.

Warning issued for high tidal waves
The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services has issued a warning for high waves along the Kerala coast. As per the alert, tidal waves that reach a height of 1.4-1.7 will strike the Kerala coast by 11.30 pm on Monday. Fishermen as well as coastal residents are advised to exercise extreme caution in view of the rough sea conditions.
(With PTI inputs)