Kerala on alert after Arabian Sea depression grows

Three months after Cyclone Ockhi ravaged the Kerala coast and caught the administration off guard, the government has sounded an alert as a depression in the Arabian Sea for last two days deepened further on Tuesday.

The Met office has warned fishermen not to venture into the sea for next two days as the depression situated 390 kms south-west of Thiruvananthapuram intensified further.

Kerala’s chief secretary Paul Antony met different departmental heads Tuesday morning to review preparations. Coast Guard ships are on standby while the government has set up two control rooms in Alappuzha and Thiruvananthapuram.

“We are in constant touch with the weather and disaster management offices. We have been informed that the depression is intensifying ,” chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said.

He asked all fishermen who ventured into the sea before the warning came into force to return immediately. Government officials said they were coordinating with Navy and Coast Guard to meet any eventuality.

The Met office has predicted heavy rainfall in next two to three days. HTC

Elimination goals

Reduce incidence (per 100,000)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:

Reduce prevalence (per 100,000)

Reduce mortality (per 100,000)

Achieving zero catastrophic cost for affected families by 2025 from 35% in 2015