Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala, which was ravaged by the south west monsoon in August, is bracing for more rains with a low pressure area likely to form over the Southeast Arabian sea, as the state government stepped up disaster preparedness Thursday. Kerala's neighbour, Tamil Nadu has initiated measures following an IMD forecast that the state may receive heavy to very heavy rainfall in most places and extremely heavy rainfall in some areas on October 7, officials said.
An Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) bulletin said the low pressure area could intensify into a cyclonic storm, triggering heavy to very heavy rainfall in several parts of Kerala.
In view of the IMD forecast, a red alert has been sounded in Idukki and Malappuram districts with heavy rains expected on Sunday.
According to the bulletin, a cylonic circulation over southeast Arabian Sea andadjoining Lakshadweep and Maldives areas extended "upto middle tropospheric level in the morning of Thursday and under its influence, a low pressure area is very likely to form over southeast Arabian Sea by October 6." "It is very likely to concentrate into a depression and move northwestwards during subsequent 36 hours and intensify further into a cyclonic storm and move towards Oman coast," the bulletin said.
Reviewing disaster preparedness, a meeting of Disaster Management Authority officials held here Thursday asked officials concerned to monitor the water levels in dams considering the forecast. Shutters of dams in Thrissur and Palakaad districts were lifted this evening to drain out excess water.