Thiruvananthapuram: With heavy rain continuing in Kerala, the district administrations in Idukki, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Kasaragod districts have alerted people to exercise caution. Two people have died so far and four, including three fishermen from Tamil Nadu, are missing.

Karadka in Kasaragod district has recorded over 11 cm of rains on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Met has forecast more rain till July 23.

In the hilly Idukki district, a minor landslide occurred Saturday morning at Konnathady village, causing crop loss. There were no casualties, official sources said.

People have been advised against travelling in hilly areas, they said.

Koshy Varghese (53) drowned after slipping into the Manimala river at Thiruvalla while fishing and Dileep Kumar (54) from Kollam died when a coconut tree fell on him Friday, Kerala State Disaster Management sources said.

Three fishermen from Tamil Nadu, who had put out to sea from Neendakara in Kollam, are still missing. Two others in their boat managed to swim to safety.

A man who had gone to bathe at Fort Kochi beach is also missing.

The fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea due to strong winds. Strong winds from Northwesterly direction, with speed reaching 40-50 kmph, are likely along and off the Kerala coast.

Meanwhile, four fishermen who had gone missing from Vizhinjam have been located. They were found by a rescue team comprising of local fishermen and brought back to safety.

Their boat had developed a technical fault and was drifting about 28 nautical miles from the shore. The fishermen, who were left without food, have been shifted to a hospital.

In Arratupuzha, relief camps have been opened to accommodate families that have shifted there after sea water entered their houses.

In the northernmost Kasaragod district where red alert has been issued, Karadka recorded 12 mm rainfall on Saturday, the sources said.

The yellow alert was extended in Pathanamthitta for two more days - July 21 and 22. The shutters of Maniyar dam are likely to be raised if rain persists. The officials has issued a warning on the impending flood-like situation on the banks of Kakkattar river.

Orange alert has been issued in Kottayam. Twelve houses have been destroyed so far on account of the rain. Two families have been moved to safety. Yesterday, 52 mm rainfall was recorded.

The Kariangode river is in spate and has changed its course, flooding 50 houses in the vicinity, and people have been shifted to relief camps.

According to reports, the Madananthesswara Sidhi Vinayaka temple at Madhur has been flooded.

According to the IMD, Kankole and Chalode in Kannur district recorded 64.52 mm and 62.23 mm rains in the last 24-hours respectively.

Trees were uprooted in many places, some of them falling on homes and damaging the dwellings.

Dam shutters lifted, rivers in spate

Shutters of Pambla, Kallarkutty, Bhoothathankettu and Malankara dams were opened to drain out excess water.

•Idukki dam: The water level in Idukki dam has reached 2307.12 ft as the rain has intensified in its catchment area. The water level has risen by 2.5 ft.

•Malankara dam: Two shutters of the dam was lifted on Friday and one more was opened on Saturday morning.

•Mullaperiyar dam, Idukki: The water level of the Mullaperiyar dam had reached 112.2 ft on Friday.

•Aruvikara dam, Thiruvanathapuram: The Aruvikara dam shutters have been lifted due to heavy rains.

•Pambla dam, Idukki: Shutters of the Pambla dam in Idukki district have been lifted to discharge 15 cumecs of water. The Kallarkutty dams have been opened.

•Peringalkuthu Dam, Thrissur: The collector has given permission to lift the shutters of the Peringalkuthu Dam.

•Ponnani: Two shutters of the biyyam regulator has been lifted in Ponnani following the rise in water level here.

•Karamana river, Thiruvanathapuram: People on either side of Karamana river have been asked to be vigilant with the possiblity of flood waters entering residential homes.

•The Pamba river is in spate, inundating shops and other establishments in the low-lying areas.

•The water levels of Periyar, Muvattupuzha rivers have also gone up. The inundation of Kothamangalam manikandanchal chappath has resulted in the isolation of tribal villages here.

•The Meenachil and Manimala rivers have started overflowing at several areas.

•The Kuttipuram town has been submerged in water. The railway station and bus stand has also been flooded.

Other missing fishermen and rough sea

Seven fishermen are missing and relief camps have been opened in two districts as heavy rains lashed several parts of Kerala for the second day Friday under the influence of the southwest monsoon.

Four missing fishermen from Vizhinjam were located in the search and rescue operation conducted by other fishermen. The search by coastal police for the fishers had proved futile earlier.

In Kollam, three fishermen went missing after their boat overturned in the choppy waters. Two others in the boat, who swam to safety, were rescued and have been hospitalised.

Ponnani has been experincing rough seas. Several houses have been destroyed in the area.

Alerts

Apart from Idukki and Kozhikode, the IMD has issued red alert for Wayanad till 22, warning of rain in excess of 20 cm. It has also issued red alert for Kasargod district for July 20.

Yellow alert has been issued for Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, and Palakkad districts.

The red alert is a call to immediately take preventive steps to evacuate people from vulnerable areas to shelter camps and provide others with emergency kits.

The districts are likely to receive extremely heavy rainfall upwards of 20 cm, an IMD official said.

According to the IMD, some places in Kozhikode and Idukki districts, where a red alert has been sounded, recorded around 5 cm rainfall in the past 24 hours.

Some places in Malappuram, Thrissur, Ernakulam and Kottayam districts received rainfall of over 6 cm, it said.

Possibility of landslides and mudslides exist in hilly terrains. If the downpour continues Kerala will receive rainfall of at least 40 cm. The 48 per cent shortage in rainfall experienced by the state will be rectified to an extent if the trend continues.

Idukki and Sabarigiri dams which experienced a 10 per cent lower water level will gain from the continuous downpour this week. The low groundwater levels will also be replenished.

Pilgrims visiting the famous Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala in Pathanamthitta district, which has been opened for the five-day monthly pooja, have been facing difficulties due to incessant rain.

"Due to heavy rain since yesterday, the Pamba area was flooded. But now the water is receding," said a top official in-charge of Disaster Management Authority in Pathanamthita district.

Idukki District Collector H Dineshan has informed that all precautions to deal with any situation have been taken.

With the southwest monsoon intensifying, the IMD has issued orange and yellow alerts across various districts in the state.

The State Disaster Management Authority has asked all the departments to open control rooms at Taluk headquarters.

Kerala had the worst deluge in years in 2018. With homes destroyed and thousands displaced, the state is still reeling under the shock of the disaster.

Precautions to be taken by locals

Residents of areas where the alerts have been sounded and those living in places where flooding had occurred last year should keep an emergency kit containing all important documents and other valuables ready. They have to be ready to relocate to safe places as directed by the officials in case of an extreme situation. Click here for the areas where flooding is likely.

The emergency kit has to be kept ready also by residents of landslip-prone areas. They include people living in areas where landslides occurred in 2018 or cited as uninhabitable by the Geological Survey of India. This alert is applicable also to people who lost houses in landslides and are now living in incomplete houses or whose dwellings are yet to be repaired. They should be ready to move to safe camps and the government has issued instructions to open such facilities. Click this link to see landslide prone areas.

Emergency kit

Important documents, certificates, jewellery and other valuables should be placed inside a plastic bag, which has to be kept at an easily accessible spot. This spot should ideally be at a high level from the ground. All residents, including women and children, have to be informed about the emergency kit and made aware that they may have to shift to a safe place if weather deteriorates.

Common instructions

• Avoid travelling in landslip-prone areas in the hills between 7pm and 7am.

• Do not park vehicles near streams in hilly areas as flash floods can occur.

• Avoid picnics to hill regions and to the beach.

• Never spread rumours through social media.

• Desist from clicking selfies on bridges and river banks

• Never step into rivers and canals as the water level could go up suddenly. Do not bathe or wash clothes in these water bodies. Ensure that minors also do not engage in these tasks.

• Inform all family members of the official instructions. Tell everybody that they should not wait for others in case an evacuation order has been given.

• Listen to weather warnings on television and radio. The Akashavani radio is available at:

1) Trivandrum MW (AM channel) 1161 kHz

2) Alappuzha MW (AM channel) 576 kHz

3) Thrissur MW (AM channel) 630 kHz

4) Calicut MW (AM channel) 684 kHz

• Shift to a nearby camp if necessary. Contact the local authorities in each village without hesitation.

• Switch off power main switch if water enters the house.

• The District Emergency Operations centre number is 1077. If calling from outside district, add STD code.

• Keep the contact number of panchayat authorities.

• If there are children, elderly, differently abled, sick or bedridden people in the house, shift them first. Also inform the Social Welfare Department officials in the area of their presence.

• Keep electrical appliances at a place where flooding may not occur.

• Shift pets to safe areas or free them. They can swim.

• Park vehicles in elevated areas.

• People living in low-lying apartments may avoid parking cars in cellars.

• Engage in rescue missions only if you have received training. Others can help the rescuers.

• Never panic. If everyone remains calm and united, any situation can be tackled.

Detailed instructions regarding the measures to be adopted by each government department are given in a handbook prepared by the disaster management authority. Click here for the handbook

Directives regarding rain are included in Chapter 2 while precautionary measures are listed in Chapters 6 and 7.