Thiruvananthapuram, October 24 — The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall in five Kerala districts on Sunday and Monday, in its latest update on Saturday. Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad are under red alert on October 25, while Idukki and Palakkad are under red alert on October 26.
Source: The Hindu BusinessLine
The IMD defines extremely heavy rainfall as more than 204.4 mm of rain in 24 hours. For Saturday, an orange alert — very heavy rainfall of 115.6 mm to 204.4 mm at isolated places — is in force in Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod, while Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki and Ernakulam are under a yellow alert for heavy rainfall of 64.5 mm to 115.5 mm. With this, all 14 districts of the state are under some level of rain alert this weekend.
Source: The Hindu BusinessLine
The intensifying rain is linked to weather systems over the Arabian Sea and a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal, which the IMD expects to intensify into a cyclonic storm by October 26 and track towards the north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts by October 28, bringing heavy rain to several states.
Source: Mirror Now
The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) has warned that intense rainfall over a short period could trigger flash floods, overflowing streams, waterlogging in urban and low-lying areas, and landslides and landslips. It has advised people in landslide-prone hilly areas and flood-prone low-lying regions to move to safer locations if necessary.
Source: The Hindu BusinessLine
The KSDMA has also urged people not to cross rivers or enter water bodies during heavy rain, to avoid non-essential travel, and to stay away from waterfalls and hilly areas until the warnings are withdrawn. Night travel to hilly areas should be completely avoided, it said, asking the public and government agencies to remain vigilant and follow official updates.