Heavy Rainfall to Continue in Kerala, Red Warning in 5 Districts

A red warning – the highest level of warning – has been issued by the IMD to state machineries ‘to take action’.

Image for representational purposes.

(Photo: PTI)

Heavy rains, which have lashed Kerala for the past three days as the southwest monsoon gained momentum, will persist in the state for the next two days. Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red warning to various districts until Monday, 22 July.

This warning has been issued to the districts where extremely heavy rainfall, up to 204mm in 24 hours, is predicted. A red warning has been issued for Idukki and Kasaragod on Sunday and Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Kannur on 22 July.

According to IMD, a red warning is issued to state machineries ‘to take action’. It is the highest level of warning issued by IMD.

Meanwhile, an orange warning or ‘be prepared’ has been issued to Kottayam, Ernakulam, Kozhikode and Kannur on Sunday; Idukki and Kasaragod on Monday; Idukki, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, Kasaragod on Tuesday and Kannur and Kasaragod on Wednesday. Heavy rainfall up to 115.5mm in 24 hours is expected in these districts.

Shutters of various dams in the state were opened on Friday, 19 July. With heavy rainfall continuing, the level of water being discharged from the dams has also been increased.

One more shutter of the Malankara dam situated across Thoduppuzha river was opened on Saturday, making it a total of three shutters that were opened. Water is being discharged from the dam at a rate of 40.8 cubic meter per second (cumec). Though inflow to Bhoothathankettu dam in Ernakulam district has decreased, 15 shutters of the dam are still open.

According to Kerala State Disaster Management Authority, the water level in Lower Periyar dam is 252 meters while the Full Reservoir Level is 253 meters. The present water level at Idukki dam is 703.21 meter whereas the Full Reservoir Level is 732.43 meter.

According to the flood forecasting Central Water Commission (CWC), the water level in Periyar River is decreasing as of Saturday with the present level being 3.19 meter. Nine meters is the ‘warning level’ of the river.

Meanwhile the water level of Chaliyar river, which passes through Malappuram, is increasing and was recorded to be at 22.25 meter as of Saturday, 20 July.

(This article was first published on The News Minute and has been republished with permission.)