Low pressure belt formed in Arabian sea; rains to intensify within 24 hours

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Meteorological department has issued alerts of intense rain. Following this, the state government has issued orange alerts from Thiruvananthapuram to Ernakulam. Latest sources say that the low pressure belt formed in Arabian Sea might get transformed into a cyclone. The path of the cyclone is very near to Kerala.

The low pressure belt has been formed in the south eastern Arabian Sea near Lakshadweep. The central meteorological department has earlier said that the low pressure belt might get transformed into a cyclone. In its first warning, IMD said that by Sunday, the low pressure belt will become a cyclone and will move in a north western direction.

The earlier prediction was that the low pressure belt will intensify by Friday. In Kerala coast, winds will blow at a speed of 80 km/hr. By Sunday, the wind speed will increase further. Orange alerts have been declared in seven districts on Friday, 12 districts on Saturday and four districts on Sunday. Fishing has been banned from Sunday midnight in the Kerala coast.

Orange alert

May 14: Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottaym, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur

May 15: All districts except Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam

May 16: Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Kannur and Kasargod

Yellow alert

May 13: Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur

May 14: Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad

May 15: Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam

May 16: Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad