Heavy rain alert: Kerala reviews preparedness

The Kerala Government has initiated preparation of a water regulation framework detailing inflow into dams, present water levels, long-term storage levels and rain forecast.

The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA), at an executive committee meeting here on Thursday, directed the Water Resources Department and the Kerala State Electricity Board to prepare the framework and submit it for the government’s consideration.

The meeting was called in the wake of an alert on a low-pressure area over the southeast Arabian Sea and heavy rainfall in the state during the next four to five days. Executive engineers operating the dams have been directed to obtain permissions from district collectors before raising the sluices. The committee requested the Central Water Commission to issue appropriate directives to Tamil Nadu regarding opening shutters of dams it operates in Kerala. KSDMA said Tamil Nadu-operated dams in the state were nearly at full reservoir levels.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted widespread rain in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry during the next four to five days. A low-pressure area is very likely to form over the southeast Arabian Sea by Friday and concentrate into a depression and move northwestwards during the subsequent 36 hours. “It is very likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm thereafter and move towards Oman coast,” IMD said.

The IMD has updated its district-wise forecast for Kerala till October 8, marking two districts – Malappuram and Idukki – for red alert on Sunday. Parts of Malappuram, Thrissur and Alappuzha districts received heavy rainfall on Thursday.

SHUTTERS OPEN

Four shutters of Malampuzha dam, in Palakkad district, were raised on Thursday. Palakkad has been marked for yellow alert (heavy rainfall at isolated places) till Sunday and orange alert (heavy to very heavy rainfall in isolated places) on Monday.

KSDMA has issued an alert to people residing near rivers and canals and advised against night travel in hilly areas. The Meteorological Centre in Thiruvananthapuram has issued an alert to fishermen, advising them against venturing into southeast and central Arabian Sea from Friday. In August, Kerala was hit by floods that killed over 330 people