Kerala govt activates emergency operation centres amidst heavy rains

The government has also issued instructions to the officials concerned to open relief camps in the affected areas and had deployed two teams of NDRF in Thrissur. “There is no room for any worry at this stage. The government has taken all measures to deal with the situation. People should stay alert against rumours being spread from certain quarters regarding the situation on the ground,” the minister said.

While there is no flood forecast for the state yet, the Met Department had sounded alert in various districts till May 22. A red alert had been sounded in Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Kottayam and Alappuzha districts for Monday.  The minister said that tourists have been instructed to keep away from places where a red alert had already been declared. While an orange alert had been sounded in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Ernakulam districts, there is a yellow alert for other districts. 

According to Met experts, there is a cyclonic circulation over south Tamil Nadu. A low-pressure was formed from central Maharashtra to southern Tamil Nadu and as result a low-pressure area is likely to form over the southwest Bay of Bengal by May 22. It is very likely to move north-eastwards and intensify into a deep depression over the central Bay of Bengal.

The west/southwesterly winds are likely to intensify over Kerala till May 23. As a result of this, there is a possibility of rain in Kerala till May 22. 

Meanwhile, Opposition leader V.D. Satheesan hit out at the state government for failing to take adequate precautionary measures ahead of the rains. He said as a result of the government’s lack of preparedness, various parts of Thiruvananthapuram got inundated during heavy rains that lashed the Capital during the last two days. A similar situation prevailed in many other parts of the state.