Red alert issued in 7 districts of Kerala, poll booths flooded in Ernakulam

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday (October 21) issued a red alert for seven districts of Kerala with several parts of the state experiencing heavy rainfall since Saturday.

The seven districts include — Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Eranakulam, Thrissur and Palakkad for today. Red alert  issued for Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram districts for Tuesday (October 22).

Earlier, an orange alert was issued in 13 districts for Tuesday. An orange alert is issued to alert authorities to be prepared to handle any eventualities that may occur due to heavy rains.

The alert was issued in the districts of Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Malappuram, Ernakulam, and Palakkad which witnessed severe rainfall over the last two days.

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Schools and colleges in Pathanamthitta, Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Alappuzha, and Thrissur will remain closed today (October 21) and in Ernakulam educational institutions to remain closed on October 22. However, professional colleges in Thrissur and Alappuzha will continue to function, said sources.

The Kerala Disaster Management Authority (KDMA) has noted that heavy rainfall accompanied by lightning and storm will continue for another five days in the said districts. The IMD has also predicted that the state will receive rainfall between 115.5 mm to 204 mm in the next 24 hours. A wind speed of 45-55 kmph is likely to prevail over the east-central, southeast Arabian Sea off Maharashtra-Karnataka-Kerala coasts and the adjoining areas.

The state government said NDRF teams – one to Kollam, one to Alappuzha, one at Ernakulam and one at Pathanamthitta – have been deployed to deal with the station. Fishermen in the state have been warned not to venture into the sea. People living in landslide-prone areas have been advised to shift to relief centers. Three relief camps have been already opened in Ernakulam district to rehabilitate people coming from rain-hit areas.

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The heavy rains have also blocked the roads between Kumily and Munnar in Idukki district. Roads in Alappuzha-Changanassery were also reported to be inundated.

The government has opened two gates of the Kallarkutty Dam due to a rise in its water level. The collector of Idukki district has asked officials to look for various safety measures in the wake of heavy rainfall.

Several places in Kochi including MG Road, Edappally, North Railway station, Kaloor Bus stand and Kaloor stadium have already been flooded.

With five Assembly constituencies in the state going to bypolls today, almost 10 booths in Ernakulam districts were left flooded by the rains.

“The affected booths have been shifted. The commission will extend polling timed based on the collector’s report,” said Tikaram Meena, the state’s Chief Electoral Officer in a press meet.

The rains have also affected train services in the state. Train services via stations in Ernakulam have been affected due to heavy rainfall and waterlogging, PTI quoted railway officials as saying on Monday.

“Ernakulam Junction and Ernakulam Town stations are waterlogged, train services in all directions through these stations will be delayed till water level recedes,” a Southern Railway spokesman said. The situation turned worse as many people were left stranded for several hours at railway stations. While some local trains were short terminated, few long-distance trains were rescheduled, officials said.

(With inputs from agencies)