Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: Heavy Rains Continue, Orange Alert Issued in Four Districts
After a temporary respite in the morning, heavy rainfall persisted in Kerala on Monday. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert in four districts of the state. The districts affected the orange alert are Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, and Idukki. Additionally, a yellow alert has been issued in eight other districts.
An orange alert signifies the likelihood of very heavy rainfall ranging from 11 cm to 20 cm, while a yellow alert indicates the possibility of heavy rainfall between 6 cm and 11 cm. The IMD has also predicted the occurrence of thunderstorms with moderate rainfall and gusty winds in certain areas of Thiruvananthapuram, Idukki, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod districts.
Earlier today, the IMD reported the presence of cyclonic circulations over coastal Tamil Nadu and the Lakshadweep area, adjacent to the Southeast Arabian Sea and the Kerala coast. These weather conditions are expected to result in light to moderate rainfall, isolated heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, gusty winds, and lightning in various parts of Kerala on Monday and Tuesday.
Amidst these weather circumstances, Health Minister Veena George has urged caution to prevent the spread of infectious diseases in flood-affected areas. As waters recede from flooded and waterlogged regions, there is a risk of diseases such as leptospirosis, which can be caused coming into contact with water or soil contaminated the urine of animals like rats. The health department is already on high alert for cases of dengue and leptospirosis, and the minister advises against self-medication.
To combat the situation, the health minister has ordered the strengthening of surveillance in districts, intensification of awareness campaigns, and availability of medicines. She has also recommended that residents in flooded areas and those involved in rescue operations take prescribed doxycycline tablets to prevent leptospirosis infection.
During a brief period of relief from rainfall in the morning, water receded from most flooded and waterlogged areas. However, certain areas such as the Kochuveli pit line in Thiruvananthapuram remained waterlogged, leading to the rescheduling and delay of trains. The Thiruvananthapuram Central-New Delhi Kerala Express, initially scheduled to depart at 12:30 pm, was rescheduled to 7:35 pm due to the persistent waterlogging at the Kochuveli pit line.