Heavy rains batter state; roots uprooted, red alert in two districts, fishing banned

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The central meteorological department has warned that the rains will intensify in the state. Red alert has been issued in two districts and orange alert in eight districts today. The central meteorological department informed that there is a possibility of rain in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam and Thrissur in the next three hours.

Thiruvananthapuram district receives the highest rainfall in the state. The capital is receiving 32 percent more rain than previous years. Trees were uprooted at various places in the district due to heavy rain. Trees were uprooted at night when the rains lashed Thycaud, Mudavanmughal, Vazhuthacaud and Thirumala areas. The fire force reached the spot and felled the tree.

Meantime, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Research Center informed that there is a possibility of 0.4 to 3.3 meter high waves and storm surge along the Kerala coast (from Vizhinjam to Kasaragod) till 11.30 tomorrow night with a speed of 18 cm to 82 cm per second. As strong winds and bad weather are expected, the authorities have advised not to venture into the sea from the Kerala coast until further notice.

The state is receiving extremely heavy rain as a result of the formation of a cyclonic circulation over southern Tamil Nadu and a low-pressure area over northern Karnataka. Low pressure may form in Bay of Bengal by Friday. It will later turn into an extreme low pressure. With this, the summer rains are likely to continue till the monsoon reaches on May 31.

There is red alert in Pathanamthitta and Idukki today and in Idukki and Palakkad tomorrow.

There is orange alert today in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad and Malappuram and tomorrow in Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad and on Friday in Idukki and Palakkad.

There is yellow alert in Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod and in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Kannur, Kasaragod tomorrow and on Friday in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Malappuram.