Kerala weather update: Heavy rains continue in city; IMD issues orange alert in 8 districts

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an 'orange alert' in Kerala due to heavy rains. The weather office has put eight districts including Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod on alert on Wednesday, July 17.

The severe rains caused landslides, property damage, waterlogging of highways, and flooding of acres of farmland. The Central Water Commission (CWC) issued a warning about dangerous rise in river levels in southern state.

IMD has also issued a yellow alert in the remaining six districts of the state for the day.

An orange signal indicates very heavy rain of 11 cm to 20 cm, whereas a yellow notice indicates significant rainfall ranging from 6 cm to 11 cm. The CWC issued warnings about dangerous rising water levels in many rivers, including Achankovil in Pathanamthitta and Thodupuzha in Idukki.

It cautioned people living close to the rivers to be careful. In Ernakulam, a home was damaged in a landslide, but no one was injured and the family living there was moved to a safe location, the district administration said. The Kottayam district administration said that 45 people were moved to camps following incessant rains there throughout Tuesday night.

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief K Sudhakaran, meanwhile, called upon party workers and members to aid in relief work where people have suffered property damage and other losses due to the heavy rains. He also urged the Youth Congress, the Kerala Students Union to come forward and help in the relief work. There should be a strong presence of Congress workers wherever help is needed, he said in a statement issued by the party.

Meanwhile in the capital, the minimum temperature was recorded at 29.8 degrees Celsius, over two notches above the season's normal. The maximum temperature is likely to settle around 38 degrees Celsius in Delhi today, July 17. Read more

With agency inputs