Kerala is likely to witness heavy to very heavy rains in the next few days. (File Photo/PTI)
Kerala is bracing for heavy to very heavy rains in the next five days, the weather department has warned. The southern state, which was ravaged by the south west monsoon in August, will get more rains as a low pressure area is likely to build up over the Southeast Arabian sea.
"Kerala is expected to get heavy to very heavy rainfall for the next 5 days. We have issued district wise warning. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into sea for next 2-4 days," K Santosh, Director, Kerala Meteorological Department, said.
The Kerala government has stepped up disaster preparedness. Kerala's neighbour Tamil Nadu initiated preventive measures following an IMD forecast that parts of the state may receive heavy to very heavy rainfall in most places and extremely heavy rainfall in some areas on October 7.
Karnataka government sounded an alert in 12 districts as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said heavy rains were likely in South interior parts of the southern state.
An IMD bulletin said the low pressure area could intensify into a cyclonic storm, triggering heavy to very heavy rainfall in several parts of Kerala.
In view of the IMD forecast, a red alert has been sounded in Idukki and Malappuram districts with heavy rains expected on Sunday.
According to the bulletin, a cyclonic circulation over southeast Arabian Sea and adjoining Lakshadweep and Maldives areas extended "up to middle tropospheric level in the morning of Thursday and under its influence, a low pressure area is very likely to form over southeast Arabian Sea by October 6."
"It is very likely to concentrate into a depression and move northwestwards during subsequent 36 hours and intensify further into a cyclonic storm and move towards Oman coast," the bulletin said.
Reviewing disaster preparedness, a meeting of Disaster Management Authority officials held here Thursday asked officials concerned to monitor the water levels in dams considering the forecast.
Shutters of dams in Thrissur and Palakaad districts were lifted on Thursday evening to drain out excess water. The sea condition is also expected to be very rough from Saturday and fishermen have been warned not to venture into deep sea.
The state had witnessed the fury of the southwest monsoon in August, the worst in the last 100 years, which claimed 493 lives and swamped several districts.
(With PTI inputs)
