Heavy rains to continue in state, capital city submerged in water

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The heavy rain that lashed last night left many parts of Thiruvananthapuram city under water. Many places like Attakulangara, Mukkolakkal, Ulloor and Chakkai have been inundated after the city recorded heavy rain last night. The waterlogging aggravated by the digging of roads for the construction of smart roads.

The waterlogging in Chakkai Junction caused difficulty to the passengers coming to the airport. The authorities had spent lakhs to solve the waterlogging here. Still, the problem has not been rectified. Reports said water has entered business establishments in Attakulangara. Rain is still continuing in many parts of the district.

A travel to Ponmudi Eco Tourism has been banned due to the heavy rains. Transport, quarrying and mining activities except for essential services to the hilly and coastal areas of the district have been banned till further notice. Recreational travel to coastal areas is also prohibited.

Meantime, the central and southern districts of the state will experience extreme heavy rains for three days from today. The meteorological center has informed fishermen should not venture into the sea on the Kerala coast due to the possibility of sea storms. Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and Idukki are on red alert today and tomorrow. These places receive more than 204.4 mm of rain in 24 hours.

Orange alert has been sounded in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha and Ernakulam today. Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad are on yellow alert. Cyclone is prevailing over South Tamil Nadu. Along with this, the rains are intensifying due to two low pressure areas extending from south Chhattisgarh to south Karnataka and from Marathwada through south Tamil Nadu to the cyclone.

The first low pressure of the season is also likely to form over Southwest Bay of Bengal on May 22. Meantime, the announcement of the Meteorological Center is that the southwest monsoon, which is supposed to reach the Andamans on May 22 will arrive today. Monsoon will reach Kerala coast on May 31.