Met warning: Heavy rainfall to lash Kerala, Lakshadweep coasts

Heavy rainfall is likely at a few places in Lakshadweep and Kerala in the next 24 hours under the influence of a depression over South-East Arabian Sea, the Met office said.

The depression moved north-west at a speed of about 25 kmph and lay centered around 50 km south-east of Minicoy, 380 km west-south west of Thiruvananthapuram and 430 km of Maldives at 11.30 am the Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre for Tropical Cyclone over North Indian Ocean said.

Winds with speeds of 45-55 kmph are likely to sweep across Kerala, Lakshadweep and Comarin area and along south Tamil Nadu during the next 24 hours.

Thunderstorm and gusty winds were likely to occur in Kollam and Alappuzha, the bulletin said. Fishermen have been warned against venturing into sea which will be rough.

Fishermen in Thiruvananthapuram, who have not set out to sea for the last six days due to rough conditions, urged the government to provide them assistance as their livelihood has been affected.

The state government had yesterday issued a fresh alert and directed officials to be prepared to face any emergency after the Met office said the weather system was likely to intensify into a deep depression and bring heavy rains.

The current depression comes after Ochki cyclone hit the coasts of the state, neighbouring Tamil Nadu and union territory of Lakshadweep in November-December 2017, claiming the lives of several fishermen and leaving many missing.

The Kerala government had then faced the ire of fishermen over handling of the situation. The BJP had also charged the LDF government with failing to protect the fishermen "despite early warning" about the cyclone.

(With PTI inputs)