THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The meteorological department has warned of heavy rains in Kerala from Sunday onwards. Isolated thundershowers are likely to lash the state. Yellow alert has been declared in four districts.

Warnings have been issued in the state on August 22, 23 and 24. Alerts have been issued in the districts of Kottayam, Idukki and Ernakulam on August 22 and 23, and Kottayam, Idukki, Thrissur and Malappuram on August 24. As strong winds and bad weather are likely, fishing has been banned in the coasts of Kerala-Lakshadweep and Karnataka.

Meantime, floods are wreaking havoc in north India. Heavy rains are continuing in five northern states. The death toll has gone up to 38. At least 22 deaths were reported in Himachal Pradesh alone. Six people died in Odisha along with four each in Uttarakhand and Jharkhand. The rains are likely to continue for four more days, warned the meteorological department.