Kerala, Tamil Nadu rains Highlights: Cheruthony dam shutter opened in Kerala’s Idukki
As the Indian Meteorological Department on Thursday sounded a red alert for Idukki and Malappuram districts and orange alert for several other districts, the state administration was in disaster preparedness mode on Friday. After heavy rain accompanied by overflowing dams inundated central Kerala in August, the government has taken pre-emptive steps this time.
Shutters of 14 dams have been opened to avoid floods downstream. Few other places like South interior Karnataka, Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar islands are also expected to experience heavy showers from October 4 till October 8.
Chief Minister Pinarai Vijayan has asked central agencies for their support in the upcoming days. “Red alert has been declared in three districts for October 7. Disaster Management Authority has been met to assess the situation. We’ve sought support from central agencies and have asked for five companies of NDRF,” Vijayan told reporters in a press conference on Wednesday.
The low pressure are in the Arabian Sea is likely to concentrate into a depression, which is moving in a north west direction away from Indian coast. Heavy spells of rain is forecast over Kerala and Tamil Nadu for the next three days. IMD
Kerala Meteorological department withdraws red alert issued for Idukki and Malappuram districts. (ANI)
One shutter of Cheruthony dam in Idukki was opened today.
Satellite image of the low-pressure area at the Arabian Sea. (Source: IMD)
Five teams of the NDRF have been deployed in Palakkad, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Idukki and Pathanamthitta in Kerala, due to the low pressure syytem in Arabian Sea.
The low-pressure area over southeast Arabian Sea and neighbourhood now lies as a well-marked low-pressure area over the same region with associated cyclonic circulation. It is very likely to concentrate into a depression and move northwestwards during next 24 hours. It is very likely to intensify into a Cyclonic Storm and move towards the coast of Oman thereafter, IMD predicts.
The Indian Navy in a statement to ANI said, "All naval assets at Kochi, both air as well as surface, being maintained at high alert to render any assistance to the state administration and local population in case of any contingency caused due to adverse weather."
Heavy rains and thunderstorm with lightning and gusty winds is likely at places over Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, Lakshadweep Islands, Kerala, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and southern Karnataka. Fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea.
The Indian Navy has taken a number of steps for disseminating the information in various languages-- Hindi, English, Malayalam and Tamil-- to the local populace and fishermen. Based on a request by the Fisheries Department, the Southern Naval Command has deployed its naval ships and Dornier aircraft deployed off Kerala coast and L&M Islands, to broadcast the weather warning to fishing boats at sea and advise them to return to harbour, a Defence spokesman said Friday.
A strict round the clock watch about the development of weather conditions at sea and a close liaison with state disaster management authority for any development at land is being maintained, he added.
Rain continued to lash parts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry for the second day on Friday, prompting officials to declare a holiday for educational institutions in the state. Following the forecast of extremely heavy rain, Chief Minister K Palaniswami held a review meeting in Chennai and issued instructions to officials. Collectors of coastal districts were asked to take steps for early return of fishermen.
Officials were told to keep ready adequate supplies that might be required in the event of people being evacuated to relief camps, a release said. Reservoirs with over 70 per cent storage should be monitored, it added. Sources said authorities had issued a red alert as heavy rain was expected Sunday.
Shutters of 14 dams have been opened to avoid floods downstream. Water at 100 cubic per second will be discharged from Idamalayar dam from Saturday. Read more here
A weather alert regarding a formation of low pressure area over southeast Arabian sea and area adjoining Lakshadweep islands has been issued by the India Meteorological Department. The Indian Navy has taken a number of steps for disseminating the same in various languages namely, Hindi, English, Malayalam and Tamil to the local population including fishermen. Based on a request by the fisheries department, the Southern Naval Command has deployed its assets, comprising naval ships and Dornier aircraft off the Kerala coast and L&M Islands, to broadcast the weather warning to fishing boats at sea and advise them to return to harbour.
Tourists have been advised to refrain from travelling to hill stations, especially Munnar in Idukki district and Nelliyampathy in Palakkad district. Kerala government has also issued warning to people living on the banks of rivers including Pamba and Periyar. Fishermen have been asked not to venture into the sea for the next few days.
Tamil Nadu MP Udhaya Kumar said the state has taken all the precautionary measures to fight heavy rainfall, reported ANI. The government has issued necessary directions to 32 districts, he added.
NDRF teams have been deployed in districts of Wayanad, Palakkad, Idukki, Pathanamthitta and Kozhikode districts of Kerala. The shutters of the Neyyar and Aruvikara dams in Thiruvanathapuram and Malampuzha dam in Palakkad were lifted Friday to release water following prediction of heavy rains in the next few days, reported PTI
Following forecast of extreme heavy rain on Sunday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami held a review meeting at Chennai and issued a series of instructions to officials. This included asking collectors of coastal districts to take steps for early return of fishermen who have ventured into the sea, PTI reported.
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As many as five districts of Kerala have been issued heavy rainfall alerts. According to chief minister's office, Kerala, red alert denotes “extremely heavy rainfall” and orange alert stands for “heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places”.
According to forecast by India Meteorological Department, heavy (7-11 cm in 24 hrs) to very heavy (12 - 20 cm in 24 hours) rainfall is most likely to occur at one or two places in Kerala on October 6 and October 8, 2018, with extremely heavy (21cm and above) rainfall on October 7, 2018. While the vice-president of Skymet Weather said the low pressure is now stationed at the southeast Arabian Sea which will become stronger, shift towards the northwest of the sea and transform into a cyclone.