The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) has issued an alert on the possibility of landslides and flash floods in the wake of a warning by the Met Department that heavy to very heavy rainfall will lash the state till Thursday.
"An alert has been issued to the public, District Collectors and officials of the Forest, Tourism and Police Departments," said Shekhar L Kuriakose, Head, Hazard Vulnerability and Risk Assessment Cell of KSDMA.
"The public, especially tourists, have been alerted not to stop on the sides of ghat roads to avoid being caught in possible landslides. Also, bathing in streams should be avoided as flash floods, triggered by heavy rainfall, are also expected," he said.
The KSDMA has put tahsildars, Fire and Rescue Service personnel and police on high alert. In hilly districts, tahsildars have been asked to identify places to house people in case of an emergency evacuation.
The Directorate of Health Services has been asked to ensure that their trauma care facilities are functional even during night.
'Heavy to very heavy rainfall will occur in Kerala till the May 8 morning," the Met Department said in its weather forecast. It has also warned fishermen of the possibility of strong winds from northwesterly direction which may attain speeds as high as 55 kmph along the Kerala coast and Lakshadweep.
A depression formed near Kanyakumari, which is making its way to Kerala has been cited as the reason for the heavy rainfall, especially in southern districts. On Monday, Nedumangad in Thiruvananthapuram received 8 cm of rain followed by Thrisssur with 7 cm.