Heavy rains in Kerala caused rivers to overflow, leading to hundreds of evacuations. Dams in Palakkad and Pathanamthitta were opened. The IMD issued an "orange alert" for seven districts which are Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Malappuram, Wayanad, warning of 11-20 cm of very heavy rain
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Heavy rains have been lashing various parts of Kerala, causing water levels in numerous rivers to rise to dangerous levels. This has prompted the evacuation of hundreds of people living in low-lying areas and along riverbanks, reported news agency PTI.
On Saturday, shutters of several dams in the Palakkad and Pathanamthitta districts were opened to release excess water.
As the rains continued, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for seven districts, which included Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Malappuram, and Wayanad. An orange alert signifies very heavy rainfall ranging from 11 cm to 20 cm.
Moreover, the IMD also noted the formation of a low-pressure area over Saurashtra-Kutch and the adjoining northeast Arabian Sea, along with a cyclonic circulation over southwest Bangladesh and Gangetic West Bengal. Consequently, the state is likely to experience more rain and strong winds in the coming days.
Meanwhile, the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has warned of the possibility of high waves, ranging from 2 to 3 metres, along the Kerala coast on Saturday and Sunday. They urged fishermen and coastal residents to exercise caution and avoid launching small boats, yachts, or fishing vessels during this period, PTI reported.
The continuous rainfall over the past few days has led to rising water levels in various rivers, resulting in flooding of low-lying areas and the displacement of hundreds of families. This has also necessitated the opening of dam shutters, including Banasura Sagar in Wayanad district and Moozhiyar in Pathanamthitta district, in recent days.
According to PTI, on Saturday, shutters of various dams in Palakkad, including Kanjirapuzha, Malampuzha, and Meenkara, were opened due to increased water levels in their catchment areas, according to the district administration.
Additionally, authorities in Idukki district are preparing for the potential opening of the Mullaperiyar dam. Tamil Nadu officials indicated on Friday that they might open the shutters once the water level reaches 136 feet. As a precautionary measure, the district administration completed arrangements on Friday to evacuate 3,220 people from 883 families residing in low-lying villages such as Periyar, Manjumala, Upputhura, Elappara, Ayyappankovil, Kanchiyar, Aanavilasam, and Udumbanchola.
However, on Saturday at 10 a.m., the water level in the Mullaperiyar dam had reached 135.70 feet.
(With inputs from PTI)
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