Red alert sounded for five districts as Kerala battles flood-like situation

The weather department has issued a red alert for several districts in Kerala warning of heavy rains on Saturday, a day after a landslide in Idukki district caused at least 21 deaths in a reminder of the massive 2018 tragedy precipitated by flooding and landslides due to incessant rains and overflowing of dams.

Red alert has been issued for Idukki, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Kannur districts for heavy to very heavy rains and an orange alert has been issued for tomorrow for Pathanamthitta, Alapuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad and Kasargod district in the state. The meteorological department said heavy rainfall will continue till Sunday.

Flood like situation continues to prevail in the state at several places and the state irrigation department has said that all major rivers in the state are in spate and sluice gates of some dams will be opened to ease the pressure. The regional meteorological office in Thiruvananthapuram has confirmed the presence of a low pressure area in the Bay of Bengal and it is expected to gain strength by Saturday triggering heavy rains till Sunday.

The National Disaster Response Force has rushed six teams to Wayanad and Idukki, the worst affected districts this year.

Also Read: Day after Idukki landslide, rainfall in Kerala likely to continue, says IMD