Kerala rains : Red Alert, Army teams have been deployed in 6 districts

Kerala rains : Red Alert, NDRF, Army teams have been deployed in 6 districts

Kerala received heavy rains on Saturday due to low pressure in the Arabian Sea.

The Chief Minister's Office said it had isolated a few families and sought the help of the Air Force in Kootikkal in the Kottayam district where the landslide was reported.

Heavy rains lashed many parts of Kerala, especially in the southern and central parts of the state on Saturday. The Meteorological Department has issued a 'Red Alert' and forecast heavy rains in five districts of the state, causing several rivers to overflow.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a 'Red Alert' for Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, and Thrissur districts. Orange alert was issued for Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad districts.

According to Kerala Chief Minister Binarayi Vijayan, the IMD has warned of widespread rains in the state due to the low-pressure area in the Arabian Sea.

He appealed to the people to remain vigilant for the next 24 hours. In a Facebook post, he said it had rained in the southern and central districts and would intensify in the northern districts by evening.

Water levels in some rivers are likely to rise and some dams in the state are expected to open, he said, adding that residents of its catchment areas should be prepared to follow the instructions of the authorities.

District Collector Navjot Kosa advised people to avoid going to tourist places and near rivers and other water bodies.

Many roads in Kollam and Kottayam districts were inundated by floods, while severe floods were reported from the state's so-called 'rice bowl', the Kudanadu region, which spread to Alappuzha and Kottayam districts.

Heavy rains lashed parts of Kottayam and Idukki districts.

The Thrissur district administration has asked people in low-lying and other calamities and riverbanks to move to safer places. Fishing boats are prohibited from entering the sea.

Revenue Minister Rajan held an online meeting of district collectors this afternoon to assess the damage.

The water level in many rivers including Meenachal and Manimala is rising steadily.