Kerala Rain: 3 casualties reported amid downpour, red alert in Wayanad

Thiruvananthapuram: Three people died in the state on Wednesday after heavy rains continued to pound many parts of central and northern Kerala, causing widespread destruction.

Saneesh (20), a native of Mankulam in Idukki, died after being swept away by a river while crossing it. His body is currently at the Adimaly Taluk Hospital and will be released to his family after the post-mortem. In Alappuzha, a man named Unais succumbed to his injuries after a tree fell on him during gusty winds on Tuesday. His wife is currently undergoing treatment in a hospital in Alappuzha. In another incident, a fisherman in Thiruvananthapuram lost his life after falling into high waves.

Heavy rain is likely to lash Kerala till July 22, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned. The weather body also revised its forecast and issued a red alert in Wayanad district. A red alert indicates extremely heavy rainfall above 204.4 mm in 24 hours.
Eight districts – Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Kasaragod are under an orange alert. An orange alert means very heavy rainfall ranging from 115.6 mm to 204.4 mm within 24 hours.

A low-pressure area over the South China Sea and Vietnam is expected to enter the Bay of Bengal in the coming days. This will form into a new low-pressure area by July 19. The State is likely to witness heavy rainfall over a short duration, potentially causing flash floods and landslides. The Met Department has warned the public to be extremely cautious and advised against fishing along the coasts of Kerala, Karnataka, and Lakshadweep.

Orange alert in districts
July 17 – Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur, Kasaragod.
July 18 – Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, Kasaragod
July 19 – Kozhikode, Kannur, Kasaragod

Yellow alert in districts
July 17 – Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Thrissur, Palakkad
July 18 - Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha
July 19 – Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Wayanad
July 20 – Kozhikode, Kannur, Kasaragod
July 21 – Kannur, Kasaragod

Kerala received 331% excess rainfall on Tuesday
Kerala recorded large excess(LE) rainfall marking a departure of 331 per cent from normal rainfall on Tuesday. The daily figures for state-wise rainfall distribution released by the IMD showed that Kerala recorded the second-highest percentage departure from normal after Lakshadweep in the country on Tuesday. In the South Peninsula, Kerala's figure of 8.45 cm was the highest on Tuesday followed by Lakshadweep (4.4cm) and Karnataka (3.05 cm).

Between June 1 and July 16, Kerala however received normal rainfall showing a departure of 16 per cent. During this period Kerala received actual rainfall measuring 83 cm while the normal rainfall is 99.2 cm. IMD officials said that Tuesday recorded vigorous rainfall in the state and it was expected to record a four-time increase from the normal rainfall.

Holiday in 8 Districts
A holiday has been declared for all educational institutions, including professional colleges, in Alappuzha, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Kozhikode, Wayanad, and Kottayam districts today due to the rains. There is no change in pre-scheduled exams. All educational institutions, except colleges, in Kannur are closed.

Casualties on Tuesday
On Tuesday, eight people died due to rain in different districts, and one person is missing. Sulochana (54) and her son Ranjith (31) died in Palakkad's Wadakkancherry when a wall in their house collapsed over them. K Chandrasekharan (62) drowned in a waterlogged area at Kannur's Panoor. Hemavati (50), the wife of Gopalagetty, was electrocuted in Kasaragod's Madhur. Reji (48) was electrocuted in Pathanamthitta's Thiruvalla while clearing weeds. A Vithura native Molly (42) died after an uprooted banyan tree fell over her car.

The body of Palakkad native Yusuf (55), who went missing in the flood on Saturday in Melattur, Malappuram, was found on Tuesday.
Baiju (33), a native of Melmuri Mukkilapeetika, drowned while bathing in a pond near Marakkara UP School. Rajesh (42) who was swept away by the waters of Cheenambuzha in Muthukunni, Palakkad is still mising.

A total of 224 people have been relocated to 14 camps across the State. One house was completely destroyed, and 97 houses were partially damaged. Following a landslide, traffic on the Kochi-Dhanushkodi National Highway from Munnar to Poopara has been banned on the gap road.

Three-year high water level in Bharathapuzha
The water level in Bharathapuzha river has risen dramatically with the opening of dam shutters at Kanjirapuzha dam among others. At 6 pm on Tuesday, the water level in the river was 6.78 meters. This is the first time in the last three years that the water level in Nila has risen to this level. On Tuesday, the water level rose by 10 cm every hour.

With the opening of the Kanjirapuzha dam, a warning has been issued to people living on the banks of the river. The construction work of the Kuttipuram Kankakadav Regulator-cum-Bridge has stopped. Bathing and fishing in the river are prohibited.