Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala): The low-pressure area which has formed over the South East Arabian sea and Lakshadweep is very likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm in the next 24 hours, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said.
The cyclonic formation named ‘Tauktae’ is to intensify into a deep depression in the next 12 hours and later, further intensify into a cyclonic storm hitting the western coast, the IMD warned. The formation's movement is northward, parallel to the coast of Kerala. The deep depression would transform into a cyclonic storm on reaching between northern Kerala and northern Karnataka.
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The Kerala government has stopped all fishing activities off the Kerala coast considering rough sea conditions.
Though Kerala does not fall in the direct trajectory of the cyclone, the deep depression will impact Kerala. Extremely heavy rain has been predicted in different parts of Kerala. Red and Orange alerts have been sounded in different districts of Kerala based on the predicted rainfall and the cyclone impact. The cyclone is likely to affect Central and Northern Kerala. The trajectory of the cyclone is parallel to the Kerala coast, as it heads towards Gujarat, after intensifying as a cyclone storm between North Kerala and Karnataka.
As much as 204 mm rainfall is expected in 24 hours.
Nine districts in Kerala will also experience strong winds, the IMD stated. Strong winds of 40-50 km per hour speed could hit Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Malappuram districts. Rainfall with thunder and lightning is also likely in these districts, as per the IMD warning.
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The Land Revenue Commissionerate had informed that 87 people have been evacuated and lodged in four relief camps in the state so far -- in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Idukki and Ernakulam districts. In Thiruvananthapuram, 51 people have been evacuated and accommodated in the camp while there are 24 in the Kollam camp. There are four people in Idukki and eight in the Ernakulam disaster relief camps.
As many as 3,071 buildings have been identified for relief camps to accommodate up to 4,23,080 people across the state. Twenty-five houses in Kozhikode Kasaba Thoppiyil Beach have been inundated in the rough sea.
As of now, an extremely heavy rainfall alert has been sounded in Central Kerala on Saturday. As the deep depression is expected to intensify into a cyclone between North Kerala and North Karnataka, the northern districts of Kerala are very likely to receive extremely heavy rainfall.
As Kerala does not fall in the Tauktae cyclone’s trajectory, the situation may not be as worrying by Saturday, it is anticipated.
