Red Alert in Kerala, TN & Puducherry Over Cyclonic Conditions

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Oct 04, 2018 (PTI) : The Kerala government, on Wednesday 3 October, issued a red alert in three districts of the state after Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) warned about a cyclonic depression over the Arabian Sea.

 

In most districts in Kerala, a yellow alert has also been issued from 5-7 October. Some districts and isolated areas are likely to see heavy rains on 4 October. An orange alert has been issued in Idukki from 4-6 October, in Thrissur and Palakkad on 6 October and Pathanamthitta on 7 October, The News Minute reported.

In an emergency meeting convened by CM Pinarayi Vijayan, fishermen have been cautioned from venturing out. He said, "The IMD has sounded a red alert in Idukki, Palakkad and Thrissur districts, as very heavy rains have been predicted on 7 October, while several parts of the state are likely to get heavy rains on 5 October.”

District authorities have been asked to be ready for any eventuality as landslides can be expected, said Vijayan.

The CM also advised against travelling to hilly areas during the mentioned dates, particularly to Munnar to explore neelakurinji at this time.

Vijayan also requested the central government to send five more teams of the NDRF to Kerala. Police would issue warnings in flood-prone areas through loudspeakers.


Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are also likely to receive widespread, moderate rain with some isolated incidents of heavy downpour in the next three days, Deputy Director General of Meteorology S Balachandran said Wednesday, 3 October

Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea between 6 October and 8 October over the South Kerala coast, Lakshadweep area, Comorin area, Southeast Arabian sea and Central Arabian sea, he told reporters in Chennai.

"Formation of a low pressure area over southeast Arabian sea on 5 October and its transformation into a cyclonic storm while moving towards northwestward direction on 6 October and 7 October is also likely to happen," he said.

"Till October 5, there would be widespread, moderate rainfall in TN and Pondicherry and heavy rainfall in some isolated places," he said.

The official said those who are in deep sea have been advised to return to the coast by 5 October.

The cyclone has reportedly formed after a spell of rains in Gujarat due to cyclone Daye. Cyclone Daye had crossed the coast near Gopalpur in Odisha on 21 September, triggering heavy downpour accompanied by high velocity wind in several parts of the state.

The cyclone over northwest Bay of Bengal moved west-northwestward with a speed of about 23 kmph and crossed south Odisha and adjoining Andhra Pradesh coast close to Gopalpur in the early hours of Friday, Director, Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar, H R Biswas had told PTI.

As the cyclonic storm had made a landfall, it brought heavy to very heavy rainfall in some places in Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Rayagada, Kalahandi, Koraput, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur districts of the state, PTI reported.