Indian Coast Guard formations off the coast of Kerala and south Tamil Nadu have been put on high alert after issuance of warning by Indian Metrological Department (IMD) regarding formation of low pressure in South East Arabian Sea.
According to IMD, the depression is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm within next few hours. The Met department expects the storm to move north west towards South Oman and adjoining Yemen coasts during the next five days.
The Kerala government has thus stepped up its vigil to deal with the situation. Indian Coast Guard has formed disaster response teams at Kochi and Gemini life boats have been kept on stand by for deployment at short notice.
Low pressure area over South East Arabian Sea has concentrated into a depression and likely to intensify into cyclonic storm in next 24 hours
The coast guard has deployed ships in the choppy water to broadcast warnings and advice fishermen at sea to return to harbour to avoid weather disruptions caused by depression over south-east and adjoining east-central Arabian sea.
Also read | Kerala: Govt steps up vigil as depression in Arabian Sea likely to intensify into cyclonic storm
"Rough to Very Rough sea prevails over South East Arabian Sea while system moves in NWly direction @IndiaCoastGuard coordinates with Rescue coordination centre of #Muscat #Oman #Sanaa & #Yemen to assist Indian Fishing Boats & Dhows in their respective #SAR Regions @DefenceMinIndia," Indian Coast Guard's official handle tweeted today.
Formation of depression over south-east and adjoining east-central Arabian sea has opened the possibility of heavy rains in Kerala. Following the forecast by the IMD, a special coordination cell with officials from Kerala state disaster management and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been opened by the additional chief secretary and the disaster management department.
The cell will function overnight in the Government secretariat. The water level in various dams is also being closely monitored by the government.
In view of the heavy rain forecast, shutters of nearly 22 dams including Cheruthoni, part of the Idukki reservoir, Malamapuzha, Neyyar, Kallada and Pamba have been opened to release water, as a precautionary measure.
Kerala was hit by devastating floods in August this year, claiming 493 lives. The floods in the state had left behind a trail of unprecedented destruction, making it the worst in the last 100 years.
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