Kerala on alert over rains, landslides

KOCHI: Heavy rain was reported from many places in the state on Monday amidst the orange and yellow alerts sounded by the weather department.
Kerala state disaster management authority (KSDMA) has put all districts on alert for possible roads caving in and landslides in central and north Kerala this week if it rains more than 15cm. KSDMA officials said that a high alert has been issued to the local administration. Four teams of the national disaster response force (NDRF) have been pre-positioned in Idukki, Wayanad, Alappuzha and Thrissur. Army, Navy and police have been alerted to respond in case of an emergency. Across the state, 6,432 buildings have been readied to shift people in vulnerable regions at short notice.
Though orange and yellow alerts have been issued for certain districts, officials are treating it as an equivalent of a red alert. “It doesn’t take long for a yellow or orange to turn red — extremely heavy rainfall of more than 20cm,” said an official.
Squally weather with wind speed reaching 50-60kmph is likely to prevail along and off Kerala coast. Fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea. Weather experts said that there could be one-day extreme rainfall events with 20-30 cm rain that could trigger landslides or mud-slips as seen recently in Kottayam. The seas will be very rough with waves in the range of 2.4-3.4 metre forecast along Kerala coast from Pozhiyoor to Kasaragod. Surface current speeds would vary between 50-70 cm/sec.
KSDMA officials said that based on the GSI team assessment in 2018 and KSDMA’s expert assessment, each district collector has been given a list of vulnerable sites for mud-slips, landslides, ground-cracks, soil pipes and sudden inundation. “We will move people as soon as possible to the identified rehabilitation buildings.
As of Monday, Vadakara had recorded 16cm of rain while Idukki had 8cm. Vaikom, Myladumpara, Thalassery, Kudulu recorded 7cm each. Other rainfall reported areas include Munnar, Peermade with 6cm each and Vellanikkara, Mananthavady, Vythiri and Irikkur got 5cm each.
Following heavy rains in Idukki on Monday, the shutters of Pambla (Lower Periyar) and Kallarkutty dams were opened on Monday. One of the shutters of Pambla dam was opened by 30cm to release 45cumecs of water. Kallarkutty dam was opened to release 30cumecs of water.
Meanwhile, the sluice gate of Peringalkuthu dam was opened on Monday. People living on the banks of Chalakudy river have been asked to be alert in the event of sudden rise in water levels. The district collector banned bathing, photography and fishing on the river banks.