Incessant rains, flash floods warning, heavy rains that wreak havoc expected

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Heavy rains are expected in the state in the coming days. The Central Meteorological Department has warned a possibility of heavy rain for the next four days. Central and southern Kerala is currently wreaking havoc in the monsoon rains. Weather experts have warned that due to continuous rain with thunder and lightning, there may be local flash floods.

Five people have died due to monsoon so far. Orange alert is issued in districts from Thiruvananthapuram to Idukki today. Apart from Wayanad and Kasaragod, yellow alert has been issued in other districts today. There was a landslide in Idukki Moolamattam. Houses in Moolamattam, Moonnunkavayal and Manappadi areas were flooded. There were landslides in some places in Kottayam. Residents of seven houses in Irumapra have been relocated. In Kollamulla and Erumeli in Ranni, people were evacuated as water entered their houses. In the situation of widespread monsoon, a control cell has started working in the office of the minister of revenue. No: 8078548538.

The rains have not stopped in central and southern Kerala. Widespread damages were seen in Kottayam. The rain will intensify again tomorrow. Landslides and waterlogging are more likely. There is also a warning that there is a possibility of landslides in the forest area. The disaster management authority has informed that extreme caution should be taken in hilly areas as there is a possibility of landslides. Should not go into rivers, water bodies, streams etc. to bathe, wash clothes or bathe animals. Do not go into the sea. It is advised to avoid night and tourist trips as much as possible and vehicles should be driven at low speed. Waves of more than one meter are also possible in the sea. So should not venture into the sea for fishing.

Dams opened, tourist centres closed
Many dams were opened due to heavy rains in the catchment areas. Neyyar and Aruvikara dams opened. Third and fourth shutters of Aruvikkara Dam are currently raised by 20 cm each. Neyyar's four shutters have also been raised by five centimetres. Forest Minister A K Saseendran said people will not be allowed to enter eco-tourism centres such as Kumbhavurutti, Palaruvi, Kallar, Adavi, Mankayam, Ponmudi, Neyyar, Kottur etc till further notice. Thenkasi Kuttalam waterfall was also temporarily closed. Ban on Gavi Yatra through Pathanamthitta Seethathodu Kochandi Forest Check post. Educational institutions have also been closed in many places due to the heavy rains.

The rains are reported to be activated by a cyclonic circulation over the central-southern Bay of Bengal. It was recently found in a research study by a research student at CUSAT that the presence of cumulus clouds over the Kerala coast is causing erratic rainfall, including in Kochi. The research was on the monsoon seasons of 1980-99 and 2000-19. Rain clouds have undergone a major structural change. It was also clear from the study that this phenomenon on the west coast has also changed the nature of rainfall on the Kerala coast.

The August 2018 floods were caused by cumulus clouds and subsequent light cloudbursts. A change in cloud structure brings things to a similar state on the West Coast. This will increase the intensity of rainfall and increase atmospheric instability.

In the study conducted by research student of CUSAT, A V Sreeenath, P Vijayakumar of Malaysian University and Prof Brian Mapes of Miami University also cooperated in the study. The study was under the supervision of Dr S Abhilash, research director of CUSAT radar centre.