Orange alert in state as IMD predicts more rain

Thiruvananthapuram: Three persons were killed and two others went missing in summer rain-related separate incidents in the state on Thursday, even as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for April 29 and 30 across the state.
The sea remained rough on Thursday, and the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) predicted swell waves reaching heights of 1.7 to 2.4 metres till Friday midnight.
INCOIS also warned fishermen against venturing into the sea till Monday, and those already gone fishing were asked to return by Sunday.
Strong winds, touching speed of 115kmph were expected over the southwest Bay of Bengal on April 28 and 29, INCOIS said.
Three killed in Nilambur
Shankaran, 60, of Poolakkappara Colony, Chathi, 61, of Pattakkarimbu Colony in Amarambalam and Chathi, 59, of Punchakolli Colony, Vazhikkkadavu, were killed when a branch of a tree snapped and fell on them in heavy rains and strong winds at Poolakkappara tribal colony near Moothedam in Nilambur, Malappuram.
Two children, Ananya, 6, and Renuka, 10, suffered minor injuries, and were hospitalised. Edakkara police said the incident occurred during a tribal festival around 7.30pm.
Students missing in sea
Strong waves washed away two students bathing in the sea at Azheekkal beach near Karunagappally, Kollam. Nithin Babu, and his neighbour Sachin Prabhakaran, both aged 16 and residents of Karunagappally, were part of a group of five students of BJSM Higher secondary school, Thazhava. Lifeguards rescued the boys’ friend, T Vishnu, from the strong waves, and shifted him to the taluk hospital.
Locals, who noticed the incident, remained helpless since the sea was rough. The marine police, too, could not help much due to adverse conditions.
In coastal Valiyathura, Thiruvananthapuram, 19 families were shifted to rehabilitation camp after their houses were damaged in sea erosion. At Amabalappuzha North in Alappuzha, four houses were damaged in sea erosion.
Stay safe: Met department
The IMD predicted more rains in the coming days as the well-marked low-pressure area over east equatorial Indian Ocean was likely to intensify into a cyclone and move towards Tamil Nadu on April 30.
The department also warned of sea erosion and advised fishermen to stay away from the sea.
The IMD has issued orange alert—asking people to be prepared—for the state on April 29 and 30. Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur and Malappuram might receive isolated heavy rainfall on Monday.
The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority has warned of landslides in Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Malappuram, Pathanamtitta, Kottayam, Wayanad, Kozhikode and Palakkad. It advised people against travelling to hilly areas between 7pm and 7am.
(With inputs from Malappuram, Kollam and Alappuzha bureaus)