IMD Issues Red Alert In Parts Of Kerala

The India Meteorological Department issued a red alert and warned of heavy rainfall in Kerala on Thursday.

"Under the influence of the cyclonic circulation over south Kerala and the neighbourhood, a low-pressure area has formed over the southeast Arabian Sea off the Kerala coast, and the associated cyclonic circulation extends up to 7.6 km above mean sea level," the IMD said in a statement.

According to the weather department, the red alert was issued for Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki and Alappuzha. Although Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Ernakulam were earlier placed under an orange alert, the IMD later upgraded the warning, predicting extremely heavy rainfall in isolated places there.

Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad continue to be on orange alert, while Kannur and Kasaragod remain on yellow alert, the IMD said. Parts of Kochi were flooded after heavy rainfall on Wednesday evening.

The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority has warned fishermen against venturing into the sea until further notice. High waves in the range of 0.4 to 3.3 metres and sea incursions are forecasted along the coast of Kerala, from Vizhinjam in the south to Kasaragod in the north, until Thursday night.

The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority said four deaths had been reported from across Kerala in various rain-related incidents.