Thiruvananthapuram: A low-pressure formation over the North Western Bay of Bengal, off the coast of Odisha and Bengal, is likely to intensify in the next 24 hours, warns the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The low-pressure trough that stretches from the southern coast of Maharashtra to the northern coast of Kerala, the cyclonic circulation laying over the East Central Arabian sea and the monsoon trough that remains active south of its normal position, are all likely to bring isolated heavy rains in Kerala until August 10, IMD predicts.
4 shutters of Anathode-Kakki dam to open
The shutters of the Kakki-Anathode dam, from where the state's second-largest hydroelectric project, Sabarigiri, functions, will open at 11 am on Monday.
The decision was taken after the water level in the reservoirs reached the rule curve. An order to this effect was made by the Rule Curve Committee to the Kakkad Division of the Dam Safety Department on Sunday afternoon. The rule curve of the Anathode dam is 975.75 metres. As on Sunday evening, the water level has reached 975.50 metres.
Around 100 cumecs of water will be released through four shutters, which will be raised by two feet. Depending on the existing water level, no more than 50 cumecs of water will be released. Even if 100 cumecs of water is released, the water level in the Pampa river will not rise more than 30 cm.
Once released, the water will reach Pampa Triveni within two hours via Anathode Kakkiyar.
Banasura Sagar dam to open on Monday
A red alert has been sounded at Banasura Sagar Dam, which impounds the Karamanathodu tributary of the Kabini River, in Wayanad.
With the water level in the dam surpassing the upper rule level of 774 metres, the Wayanad district collector informed that the dam's shutter will be raised by 10 cm at 8 am on Monday.
Evacuation of residents living on the river's banks is underway.
3 shutters of Idukki dam raised
With the water level continuing to rise, three shutters of the Cheruthoni dam, which is part of the Idukki reservoir, opened on Sunday, releasing 100 cusecs of water.
The Idamalayar dam too will open its shutters on Tuesday. The electricity board in charge of the dam has been permitted to open the shutter at 10 am and release 50-100 cumecs of water.
Though no significant change in the water level in Periyar is expected, all preparations as per the Orange Book of the Disaster Management Authority have been adopted. Caution has been sounded to those living on the banks of the Periyar river. Ernakulam District Collector Dr Renu Raj has directed various departments to implement necessary measures to avoid any troubles and said there was no need to panic and that the situation was under control.
Mullaperiyar dam shutters raised further
The shutters of the Mullaperiyar dam were raised further on Sunday to release more water.
The development comes given IMD's recent prediction that the region is likely to witness more rain in the coming days.
Three of the ten shutters opened on Friday were raised by 50 cm each, doubling the release of water to 4141 cumecs (cubic feet per second).
Holiday for edu institutions
Owing to incessant rain, the district collectors of Wayanad, Alappuzha, Idukki, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and Ernakulam announced a holiday for educational institutions on Monday.
In Wayanad, all educational institutions, including professional colleges, will have a holiday on Monday. However, residential schools shall function as usual.
In Idukki, all educational institutions in Devikulam and Peermade taluks have been given a holiday. In Udumbanchola taluk, schools and colleges situated in Bison Valley and Chinnakanal panchayats will have a holiday. Besides these taluks, all schools that have been converted into relief camps in the district get a holiday as well.
In Alappuzha, all educational institutions, including professional colleges, in Kuttanad taluk will have a holiday on Monday. Besides Kuttanad, all schools that have been converted into relief camps in the district will have a holiday as well.
In Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam and Kottayam, schools that have been temporarily converted to relief camps will have a holiday on Monday.
Exams and interviews will be held as scheduled in all these districts.
Camps set up in central Kerala
District authorities have urged those staying on the banks of the Periyar River to be cautious. Relief camps have been set up at various places.
Thirty-four camps have been set up in Ernakulam alone and 1,286 people have been moved here.
Most camps are set up in the Paravur region (16), while seven have been set up in Aluva and 6 in Muvattupuzha.
Authorities are constantly monitoring the situation and have allayed fears of widespread damage like seen in 2018.
Another landslide rocks Munnar
Kundala Estate in Munnar was rocked by another landslide on Sunday.
Two houses were buried beneath a pile of slush, mud and stones. There were no casualties.
This is the second landslide to hit the Estate in the last two days.
On Saturday, a temple, two shops and a water tank in the area were destroyed in a landslip.
Warning for fisher folks
The Kerala coast from Vizhinjam to Kasaragod may witness high waves in the range of 3.5 to 3.6 meters until 11.30 pm tonight, warns the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information. Fisher folks have been banned from venturing into the sea along Karnataka coasts until Wednesday.
Man dies in house collapse
Perumal Lachi, aged 75, a man from a tribal community in Sholayur Maranatti Kollangode in Attappady, Palakkad district, died after his house collapsed.
The death toll in rain-related accidents has thus reached 22 over the last week. Five people are missing.
At present, as many as 14,482 are accommodated in 372 relief camps in the State.
