Kerala rain: IMD issues red alert in 5 districts, 3 dead, many feared missing in Kottayam landslide
According to the IMD, a red alert has been issued in 5 districts and orange alert in 7 districts as heavy rainfall lashed parts of Kerala.
FollowThiruvananthapuram: Heavy rain slammed several parts of Kerala on Saturday causing water-logging in several areas, flooded roads, and widespread damage. Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert in 5 districts in Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki and Thrissur districts and an orange alert for the seven districts in the state.
According to the IMD, the orange alert has been issued in the state capital Thiruvananthapuram, including Kollam,Alappuzha, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad districts.
"Kerala is expected to receive isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall with isolated extremely heavy rainfall till the morning of October 17. Isolated heavy rainfall is expected on Oct 18 and a further reduction in rainfall from October 19," said IMD Thiruvananthapuram.
Thee people died while many others were feared missing following a landslide in Plappally in Koottickal village of Kottayam district on Saturday.Â
According to a panchayath member of the region, the landslide occurred in two places in Plappally in which 14 people went missing.
Meanwhile, it is reported that at least 10 people have gone missing in Kottayam and IAF assistance has been sought.Â
Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan convened an online meeting of all district collectors at 3.30 pm today to review the situation.
Floodwaters have entered a number of houses and inundated parts of the Alappuzha- Changanassery (AC) road. Several rural roads in the taluk have been submerged
While heavy rainfall has been reported from many places in the state, a landslide was reported from Pullupara near Kuttikkanam in Kottayam -Kumily route on Saturday morning.Â
Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the southeast Arabian Sea and off the Kerala coast and Lakshadweep area.
Reacting to the development in the state, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the IMD has warned of widespread heavy rains in the state due to the Low-Pressure area formed over the Arabian Sea.
He also appealed to the people of the state to keep extra vigil in the next 24 hours. In a Facebook post, the Kerala Chief Mnister stated that the rains already hit the south and central districts and it would intensify in the northern districts also by the evening as per the weather forecast.
