IMD issues orange alert for several districts in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued ‘Orange alert,’ indicating heavy to very heavy rainfall in the districts of Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad in Kerala on July 29 and 30.

The weather department has also sounded ‘Yellow alert,’ denoting heavy rainfall in the coming days in the districts of Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Kannur, and Kasaragod.

IMD’s orange warning stands for “be prepared” for rough weather, while the yellow alert signifies “be updated” on the situation. It has been raining in the state capital since Tuesday night till early Wednesday morning with the IMD recording over 4 cm of rain.

Kottayam and Ernakulam districts reported the heaviest rain last night with nearly 20 and 15 cm of rain respectively. Major roads in Ernakulam and its suburban areas have been inundated as the district received 154 mm of rain.

Kerala was devastated by the worst floods in August 2018 that claimed over 400 lives and razed several houses. A year after that, the northern parts of Kerala have flooded again in August as heavy rains and widespread landslides had wreaked havoc, leaving over 120 dead.