Not cloudbursts, low pressure and wind cause heavy rain in Kerala, says IMD director general

New Delhi: Director General of India Meteorological Department Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra asserted that the cause of torrential rain in Kerala was not any ‘cloudburst’ phenomenon. The low pressure and gusty winds have caused heavy rain in Kerala and the rain in turn led to landslides. He also added that the weather conditions of Kerala have changed substantially. 

Kerala witnessed unexpected rainfall on Saturday. Meanwhile, the strength of the low-pressure area off the coast of Kerala is getting less intense. However, isolated heavy rains are expected in the state. 

The CUSAT Advanced Center for Atmospheric Radar Research Director Dr Abhilash remarked that the small cloud clusters formed over a particular area resulted in heavy rains. However, the IMD Director General has refuted this inference. 

The phenomenon of cloudburst was reported as the cause of 2019 landslides at Kavalappara and Puthumala.