Red alert issued in 7 districts of rain-hit Kerala
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As the North East Monsoon became vigorous over Kerala, a ‘red alert’ has been sounded in seven districts on Monday with heavy to very heavy rains and extremely heavy falls being forecast at isolated places over the southern State and Mahe.
According to the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority red alert has been issued in Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur and Palakkad on Monday and in four districts on Tuesday. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has asked people to be vigilant.
The red alert is a call to immediately take preventive steps to evacuate people from vulnerable areas to shelter camps and provide others with emergency kits.
According to the Indian Meteorological Department, squally weather is very likely over east central and adjoining southeast Arabian Sea along with Maharashtra-Goa-Karnataka-Kerala coasts, Lakshadweep and Comorin and over southwest and adjoining west central Bay of Bengal along with north Tamil Nadu-south Andhra Pradesh coast.
Kochi witnessed severe water-logging with heavy rains pounding the commercial city and nearby areas in the morning, affecting polling. Voters had to wade through knee deep muddy waters to cast their franchise. Most of the public transport also kept away in many places.
According to the IMD, Ernakulam South recorded the highest rains of 20 cm, followed by Vaikom in Kottayam 19 cm, Alapuzha, Mancompu (Alappuzha district)17 each, Kochi 16, Kozha (Kottayam district) 15, Punalur (Kollam district), Kanjirappally (Kottayam district) 12 each and Konni (Pathanamthitta district)11 cm.
Rains create flood scare in Karnataka
Torrential rains in many parts of the state and Maharashtra have created a flood scare afresh as many rivers are in spate, especially in Chikkamagaluru.
For the past few days, torrential rains in north interior Karnataka has wreaked havoc as many rivers, rivulets and small streams are in spate, reminiscent of the floods in August this year, official sources said.
The affected districts are Dharwad, Belagavi, Kalaburagi, Gadag, Vijayapura, Bagalkote, Shivamogga and Chikkamagaluru, where water has gushed into houses and government buildings, including schools and banks in low-lying areas.
Belagavi, yet to recover from the flood-fury two months ago, once again bore the brunt of the heavy downpour.
Red alert is a call to immediately take preventive steps to evacuate people from vulnerable areas to shelter camps and provide others with emergency kits