Thiruvananthapuram: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy rain in Kerala on Monday and Tuesday owing to the possibility of a low-pressure area forming over the Bay of Bengal.
The weather office issued an Orange alert for the Pathanamthitta and Idukki districts on Monday and Tuesday. A Yellow alert has been declared in the Alappuzha, Kottayam and Ernakulam districts.
The northern districts will also receive rain. The Met department has cautioned those residing in hilly regions.
It is estimated that the prevailing cyclonic system over the Northeast Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a low-pressure area over the Northwest Bay of Bengal and Central West Bay of Bengal in the next 24 hours.
Heavy (7- 11 cm in 24 hours) rainfall accompanied by thunderstorm and lightning is very likely to occur at isolated places in Kerala till September 7.
Orange alert
September 4 and 5: Pathanamthitta, Idukki
Yellow alert
September 5: Alappuzha, Kottayam and Ernakulam
September 6 - Ernakulam, Idukki
September 7 - Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur
September 8: Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur
Holiday in Konni
In the wake of heavy rains in the area, the Pathanamthitta District Collector has declared a holiday for educational institutions in Konni. There is no change in pre-scheduled exams. Schools and colleges across the state reopened on Monday after the Onam holidays.
Dam shutters raised
Gurunathanmann and Mundanpara regions of Pathanamthitta district are experiencing heavy rainfall. Following the incessant rains, the Kakkattar River in the district is in spate. Two shutters of the Maniyar Dam and one shutter of the Moozhiyar Dam were opened. Three shutters of Moozhiyar Dam, a reservoir of the Kakkad hydropower project, were also raised on Sunday.
Landslides
Local residents said that they witnessed a torrent of muddy floodwater in the Mundanpara stream on Sunday evening. It is suspected that a landslide which occurred in the forest led to the torrent.
Meanwhile, a landslip on the Seetakuzhi-Mundanpara route has blocked the traffic in the area. Vehicles were diverted to the road on the other side of the stream following this.
Access to Gavi has been temporarily suspended due to the threat of landslides.