Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala is facing an extreme flood situation as heavy rains pound the state due to a low pressure formed in the Arabian Sea. Four people have already been reported dead, including two children who died when their house collapsed in heavy rains at Malappuram. The Meteorology Department has warned that heavy rains would continue for five more days and caution has been issued to people living in low-lying areas.
The Central Water Commission has issued a flood alert in Kerala along with Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The Kerala Meteorological Department has warned of heavy rains in the next five days due to cyclones in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. Orange alert was issued in Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Palakkad, Malappuram and Kozhikode districts and the yellow alert were issued in Thrissur, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod districts on Tuesday.
A yellow alert has been declared in Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Idukki and Thrissur districts till October 14 and in Palakkad and Malappuram districts till October 15. A yellow alert has been declared till 14 in the Wayanad district and till 15 in Kannur. Director of the Meteorological Department K Santhosh has warned people not to go fishing off the coasts of Kerala and Lakshadweep for the next five days as the sea is likely to be turbulent.
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Several roads in the state have been blocked due to flooding and landslides. Widespread damages have been reported to agriculture and buildings in the rains. Heavy rains are still continuing without any respite and shutters of many dams have been raised to control the water level.
Officials said the rivers are getting fuller and more dams would be opened if rains continue. In Kozhikode, the Iruvanji and Chaliyar rivers are overflowing, flooding the low-lying areas near the shore. Four relief camps are opened at Kozhikode. The Famous Aluva Siva temple is now underwater as the water level in the Periyar river has gone up. Landslides are reported in many high-range areas in Eranakulam, Idukki, and Thrissur districts.
Entry to the Athirapally waterfalls tourism centre is stopped as the river is overflowing. In Thrissur, Peringalkuthu, Sholayar and Parambikulam dams have been opened. National Disaster Force is being deployed at Chalakkudi in Thrissur, which was one of the worst affected places during the 2018 floods. The Attappadi ghat road is blocked after landslides. On Monday this road was blocked as flash floods flooded the road.
The Meteorology Department has warned against fishermen venturing out into the sea.
