Thiruvananthapuram: The Central Meteorological Department has forecast heavy rains in Kerala today and tomorrow. Idukki: A red alert has been issued for heavy rains in Idukki district today. Many parts of the district are likely to receive more than 205 mm of rainfall in 24 hours.
The risk of disasters such as landslides, mudslides and floods is very high. The situation in Idukki district is likely to worsen in Ernakulam and Kottayam districts due to heavy rains. In case of heavy rains during the night, camps should be set up in the disaster prone areas and people should be informed and people should be shifted to the camps during the day.
Apart from this, orange alert was declared in Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Palakkad districts today and tomorrow in Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod districts. Heavy rainfall is forecast in isolated places. The Met Office has forecast 115.6 mm to 204.4 mm of rainfall in 24 hours. Kottayam and Ernakulam districts, which have already received heavy rains in the last 24 hours, are advised to be extra vigilant.
Yellow alert was declared in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod districts today. Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Palakkad districts tomorrow and August 31 in Kollam, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Kannur and Kasaragod districts and August 1 in Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod districts and August 1 in Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod districts. 2 is a yellow alert. Heavy rainfall of 64.5 mm to 115.5 mm is forecast in isolated places in 24 hours.
The public and government agencies need to be extra vigilant as the Central Meteorological Department has forecast heavy rains. Extreme caution should be exercised in low-lying areas, riverbanks, landslide-prone hilly areas in and around districts where Red, Orange and Yellow Alert has been declared.
Those in landslide-prone and flood-prone areas in 2018 and 2019, those living in areas identified by the Geological Survey of India and the expert committee of the State Disaster Management Authority as hazardous areas or uninhabitable areas, and local bodies and government agencies should complete hazard preparations. Preparations for conducting relief camps in the context of Kovid-19 should be completed as prescribed by the State Disaster Management Authority Orange Book 2020.
Special instructions to the public :
In case of heavy rain warning, co-operate with the authorities in relocating areas as per the instructions.
Be prepared to fully comply with Covid standards during the transition phase to relief camps.
The Disaster Management Authority has directed to organize the camps in four categories viz. Must fully cooperate with this.
Disaster risk areas should have an emergency kit ready immediately. Instructions for preparing the kit are available at https://sdma.kerala.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Emergency-Kit.pdf.
Do not cross rivers, bathe in rivers or other bodies of water, go fishing or for any other purpose in case of heavy rains.
Do not climb over bridges over water bodies to view, take selfies or stand in groups.
Residents below dams should make precautionary measures against the possibility of runoff from the dams and relocate as required as directed by the authorities.
Avoid night trips to hilly areas completely.
Coastal dwellers at risk of strong seas should also be vigilant.
Be aware of the dangers of falling trees and posts in the wind. Precautionary measures to be taken in case of strong winds issued by the State Disaster Management Authority are available at https://sdma.kerala.gov.in/windwarning/
The Orange Book 2020 of the State Disaster Management Authority explains how to prepare for the districts where orange and yellow alerts have been declared and how to understand the alerts. It is available at https://sdma.kerala.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Orange-Book-of-Disaster-Management-2-2020-1.pdf.
