Heavy Rains Hit Kerala as Southwest Monsoon Gains Strength, Red Alert in 5 Districts

Heavy rainfall has caused a flood-like situation in Kerala forcing open shutters of four dams. Red and yellow alerts have been issued in the state.

New Delhi: Torrential rains lashed several parts of Kerala for the third day as Southwest monsoon strengthened in the state forcing shutters of four dams on Periyar river to be opened.

A red alert has been issued in Idukki, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Malappuram and Kannur districts between July 19 and July 22. The northernmost district of Kasaragod also came under red alert on Saturday morning as the heavy downpour continues.

One shutter each on Kallarkuty and Pambla dams, two shutters on Malankara dam in Idukki and nine shutters on Boothathankettu dam were opened on Friday.

Kerala: One shutter of Kallarkutty Dam situated in Idukki district has been opened, following heavy rains in the catchment area. pic.twitter.com/vMVtMrmPmX

— ANI (@ANI) July 20, 2019

The second spell of monsoon has brought heavy downpour in the state which had been at least 46 per cent rain deficient till July 15.

Low lying areas in Kozhikode and Kannur were waterlogged for over six hours and some people in Kannur district were also shifted to relief camps as water entered their houses.

Kerala: Heavy rain lashed parts of the state yesterday. Visuals from Kannur. pic.twitter.com/hffghXPTNY

— ANI (@ANI) July 20, 2019

Nearly seven fishermen who had put out to sea from Vizhinijam and Shaktikulnagara in Kollam in separate boats have been missing as the downpour turned the sea rough. Search operations were being conducted after the locals protested saying that no efforts were being taken to trace them.

Moreover, several trees were uprooted, some of them damaging homes. Minor landslips have also affected traffic in the Idukki district. Idukki District Collector H Dineshan told news agency PTI that the necessary precautions to deal with any situation have been taken.

Following last year’s mismanagement of dams, the state government authorities have now issued a high alert in several districts in the state.

Meanwhile, a yellow alert has been issued for Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad and Kasargod districts.