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Kerala has been experiencing heavy rainfall in the past few days, leading to widespread flooding and landslides. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had earlier issued an orange alert for several districts, warning of extremely heavy rainfall. However, the IMD has now revised its forecast, and only Ernakulam district is placed under orange alert on Sunday.
A yellow alert has been sounded in seven districts - Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad. The IMD has warned that these districts are likely to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall in the coming days.
The southwest monsoon is expected to intensify in the coming days, and widespread rain is expected across the state till June 6. A cyclonic circulation is present in the Southeast Arabian Sea near south Kerala, and a high-level cyclonic trough has formed over Sri Lanka in the Bay of Bengal. These weather systems are likely to bring more rain to the state.
The state Disaster Management Authority has 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 regularly, should move to relief camps after assessing the rain situation.
Due to the possibility of strong winds, people who live in dilapidated houses should also move to safer places. Night travel through the hilly areas should be avoided completely, the authority added.
Source: Kerala rain: IMD revises forecast; Orange alert only in Ernakulam