Kerala weather update: Flood warning in Wayanad as shutters of Banasura Sagar dam raised again; orange alert in 3 districts on Aug 19 amid heavy rains

A day after raising the spillway shutters of Banasura Sagar Dam by 10 cm, the authorites raised it to 20 cm on Monday amid heavy rain in catchment area of the reservoir, according to Manorama Online.

A flood alert was issued for Kalpetta, Vythiri, Pozhuthana, Venniyode, Panamaram and Kottathara. Authorities have urged residents on the banks of Panamaram and Karamanthodu rivers to be alert. On Monday, Wayanad district received an average rainfall of 70 mm.

Rainfall has intensified in Chooralmalai, Meppadi and Mundakkai. All these areas witnessed a deadly landslide more than a year ago. Around 254 people were killed while 118 others went missing.

With heavy rain continuing in many parts of Kerala, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) have sounded an orange alert for Kasaragod, Kannur and Wayanad for August 19. Orange alert is issued for 'very heavy' rainfall of 115.6 mm to 204.4 mm rain in 24 hours.

Yellow alert has been issued for Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad, Thrissur, Idukki and Ernakulam. These districts are predicted to get heavy rainfall of 64.5 mm to 115.5 mm rain in 24 hours.

The state irrigation department has sounded a yellow alert for rivers like Vamanapuram in Thiruvananthapuram, Achankovil and Manimala in Pathanamthitta and Chalakkudy and Karuvannur in Thrissur. People on the banks of these rivers have been warned against venturing into the water bodies.

Fishermen have also been warned against venturing into the open sea off the coasts of Kerala and Karnataka on Tuesday. Strong winds with a speed of up to 55 kmph is forecast over the Arabian Sea.

For August 20, the IMD has also issued yellow alert for Kasaragod, Kannur, Wayanad, Kozhikode and Malappuram districts.

India