IMD issues Red alert for three districts of coastal Karnataka predicting heavy rainfall

India Meteorological Department (IMD) a red alert for three districts of coastal Karnataka predicting extremely heavy rainfall today, July 5.

These districts are Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, and Uttara Kannada. The weather department has also advised the fishermen to avoid going into the Arabian Sea.

The IMD said that stormy weather with wind speeds gusting to 55 kmph is likely to prevail over the Karnataka coast.

The IMD has also issued an orange alert for several districts of Karnataka, including Belagavi, Dharwad, Gadag, Haveri, Raichur, Bengaluru Rural, Chitradurga, Davanagere, Mysuru, and Tumkuru districts.

A yellow alert has been issued for Chikkamagaluru, Hassan, Kodagu, and Shivamogga districts.

The IMD has also issued Orange Alert in 12 districts of Kerala today, indicating the possibility of very heavy rainfall.

The district administration has declared the closure of educational institutions in six districts - Kannur, Kasargod, Thrissur, Ernakulam, Idukki, and Kottayam. In Kasargod, though, colleges will function as usual.

The APJ Abdul Kalam University, Mahatma Gandhi University, and Kannur University have postponed all examinations slated for today.

In Idukki, water has been released from the Kallarkutty and Pambla dams from midnight as the water level was fast reaching the maximum storage capacity. The District Administration has asked people living on the banks of the rivers Periyar and Muthirappuzhayar to remain vigilant.

The dams received heavy rainfall in the catchment areas during the past few days. The district authorities have imposed restrictions on quarrying and night time travel in the hilly regions.

Kerala has been receiving heavy rains in several places during the last three days.

Three persons have lost their lives in rain-related incidents so far. A high-level meeting convened by the State Revenue Minister K Rajan last evening reviewed the monsoon preparations in the state.

The meeting decided to set up taluk level relief camps, where separate facilities will be available for people suffering from influenza, workers from other states, and differently-abled people.