Orange alert in two places in Kerala; Flood warning in five districts in Tamil Nadu, people going out warned

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said heavy rains will continue in the state today. Idukki and Ernakulam are on orange today. A yellow alert has been issued for Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad today. Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam and Thrissur are on yellow alert tomorrow.

The IMD has warned that there is a possibility of moderate rain with thunderstorms and strong winds up to 40 kmph in isolated places in Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod in the next three hours, and light rain in isolated places in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Idukki, Palakkad and Wayanad.

The shutters of the Malampuzha dam have been raised following the increase in water flow. By 12 midnight, four spillway shutters were raised by 40 cm. An alert has been issued on the banks of the Chittoor river. As the water level rose, a red alert was issued for six dams in Idukki and Palakkad. Red alert was issued for the Anayirangal, Kundala, Kallarkutty, Ittayar, Lower Periyar, and Kallar dams in Idukki and for the Meenkara, Walayar, Malampuzha, Pothundi, Chulliyar, and Mangalam dams in Palakkad.

Meantime, a flood alert has been issued for five districts in Tamil Nadu as the water level in the Vaigai dam has risen due to heavy rains. A flood alert has been issued for Theni, Madurai, Ramanathapuram, Dindigul, and Sivaganga districts. Heavy rains are continuing in the catchment areas of the dam.