Heavy rainfall in Kerala, IMD issues orange alert for 3 districts

Thiruvananthapuram: Heavy rains continue to lash Kerala with parts of the state receiving over 200 mm of rain in the last 24 hours and places in major cities including Kochi and Thrissur remaining waterlogged on Friday.

As the southern state reels under the impact of heavy pre-monsoon rains, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) today issued an orange alert for three districts.

An orange alert has been issued for Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and Idukki districts. A red alert indicates heavy to extremely heavy rain of over 20 cm in 24 hours, while an orange alert denotes very heavy rainfall of 11 cm to 20 cm, and a yellow alert means heavy rainfall between 6 cm and 11 cm. Revenue Minister K Rajan, who met the media today said parts of Kerala received over 20 cm of rain in the last 24 hours and added that a total of 11 people have lost their lives in the state in various recent rain-related incidents.

“Six lost their lives in various drowning incidents, two fell into water-filled quarries, two were struck by lightning and one person lost his life in a wall collapse,” he said. unnamangalam in Kozhikode district received 22.62 cm of rain in the last 24 hours, he said.

Cherthala in Alappuzha district received 21.5 cm rain, Kumarakom in Kottayam district and Thamarassery in Kozhikode district received 20.3 cm and over 20 cm rain respectively in the last 24 hours, the Minister added. Such heavy rainfall in a short span of time will lead to various incidents and we need to arrange facilities accordingly,” Rajan said. He said the local authorities, Fire force, the police and Revenue department were ready to face any untoward incidents. The minister also said two teams of the NDRF were currently in the state.