Heavy rains to continue in state, 2 dams opened

Thiruvananthapuram: At least 10 districts in Kerala will receive heavy rainfall on Saturday and Sunday with the IMD issuing a yellow alert, while the Idukki district administration has opened the shutters of Kallarkutty and Pambla dams to release excess water.
The India meteorological department (IMD) has issued yellow alert for Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Malappuram and Kozhikode districts for Saturday whereas Wayanad too has yellow alert on Sunday.
A red alert indicates heavy to extremely heavy rains of over 20cm in 24 hours, while orange alert means very heavy rains from 6-20cm of rain. A yellow alert means heavy rainfall of 6-11cm.
The Idukki district authorities have informed that since the water level at the Kallarkutty dam has reached red alert level of 455m, the shutters have been opened to release 300cumecs of water.
As the case was similar to that of Pambla dam in the hilly district, the authorities have opened the shutters to release 500cumecs of water.
The state disaster management authority has asked the people on the banks of river Periyar to remain vigilant due to the inflow of water.
“Squally weather with speed reaching 40-50kmph gusting to 60kmph is likely to prevail along and off the north Kerala coast. Fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea,” said IMD.
According to IMD, the state received an average of 27.7mm rainfall from 8:30am on Friday till 8:30am on Saturday. The highest rainfall during this time was recorded in Thodupuzha with 106.6mm rain in Idukki, followed by Kozhikode with 94.5mm and 94mm at Piravom in Ernakulam.
According to IMD website, Kerala has received 237% excess rains during May 12 to 18. Normally the state should receive 47.3mm rainfall during this period but Kerala received 159.3mm.
During the same period, Thiruvananthapuram showed a departure of 436% of rain while Kannur showed an increase of 377%. Thrissur received 346% extra while Ernakulam showed a departure of 309%. All the districts in the state received “large excess” of rainfall during this period.