Thiruvananthapuram: Heavy rain is continuing in Kerala as the southwest monsoon intensified under the influence of a cyclonic circulation over the northeast Arabian Sea and north Kerala coast. The India Meteorological Department has revised its rain forecast for Saturday and  sounded an orange alert for four districts- Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Ernakulam and Idukki.  An orange alert indicates extremely heavy rainfall ranging from 115.6 mm to 204.4 mm within 24 hours. 

Six districts- Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Thrissur, Palakkad and Kozhikode are placed under yellow alert. Rainfall ranging from 64.5 mm to 115.5 mm within 24 hours is expected in these districts. The Met office predicted that heavy rain will continue to lash Kerala till August 21.

Orange alert in districts
August 17: Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki
August 18: Kottayam, Idukki, Kozhikode
August 19: pathanamthitta, Ernakulam

Yellow Alert in districts
August 17:  Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Thrissur, Palakkad, Kozhikode
August 18: Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Malappuram, Wayanad, Kannur, Kasaragod
August 19: Kottayam, Idukki, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad
August 20: Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur
August 21: Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad

Mudslide in Kottayam
Heavy rain on Friday night triggered a mudslide on Koottickal-Cholathadam road in Kottayam. Traffic has been disrupted here from Saturday morning. Manorama News reported that hilly regions of Kottayam recorded heavy rainfall on Friday night.

As per records, Kottickal town received 215 mm rainfall. Following the intense rainfall, water level in the Manimala and Meenachil rivers increased.

Fisherman missing
Amid the adverse weather conditions, a fisherman went missing after a boat capsized in the sea off Thiruvananthapuram's Muthalapozhi harbour. Anchuthengu native Benedict is the person who went missing. Three others who were in the boat were rescued from drowning in the sea. The India Meteorological Department has banned fishing in Kerala and Lakshadweep coasts in view of the rough sea conditions till August 19.

Meanwhile, the Kerala Disaster Management Authority has appealed to the people to exercise extreme caution to avoid untoward incidents during lightning and strong winds.