Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala witnessed relentless rainfall on Saturday, leading to flooding in low-lying areas and rising water levels in several reservoirs, including the Mullaperiyar dam in Idukki. Authorities responded by opening its shutters to manage the overflow.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued fresh rainfall warnings for Kerala for the next five days, forecasting very heavy rainfall, thunderstorms and strong winds in several districts.

Residents are urged to remain alert, especially those in landslide-prone and low-lying areas, and to follow directions from local authorities.

Orange alert

The following districts are under orange alert – very heavy rainfall (115.6 mm to 204.4 mm in 24 hrs) at isolated locations:

  • Saturday, October 18: Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki and Malappuram
  • Sunday, October 19: Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod

Yellow alert

Yellow alert – indicate the potential for heavy rainfall (64.5 mm to 115.5 mm in 24 hrs) and thunderstorms across the following districts

  • Saturday, October 18: Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod
  • Sunday, October 19: Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad and Wayanad
  • Monday, October 20: Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod
  • Tuesday, October 21: Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam and Thrissur
  • Wednesday, October 22: Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Palakkad

Additional weather systems in play

Thunderstorms with lightning and winds up to 40 kmph are expected across the state.

A low-pressure area over the southeast Arabian Sea and nearby Lakshadweep region, close to the Kerala–Karnataka coast, has intensified into a well-marked system and may develop into a depression within 36 hours, the IMD said.

In addition, cyclonic circulations remain active over the Mannar Strait and south Andaman Sea, with the potential for a new low-pressure area to form over the southeast Bay of Bengal around October 21.

Fishermen off the coasts of Kerala, Lakshadweep, and Karnataka have been warned against venturing into the sea until October 22 due to strong winds expected to reach 35–45 kmph, gusting up to 55 kmph.

Water levels rise in dams including Mullaperiyar

In Idukki, increased inflow into various dams has prompted precautionary measures. According to the district administration, all 13 shutters of the Mullaperiyar dam, which is operated by Tamil Nadu’s Water Resources Department, were opened by 1 pm, releasing 7,163 cusecs of water.

At the time, the water level stood at 138.80 feet, exceeding the permissible limit of 137 feet. The department also issued an alert regarding the situation.

In response to rising levels, shutters of the Kallarkutty, Kallar and Malankara dams were also opened. Four shutters of the Kallar dam were raised by 60 cm, discharging 1,063 cusecs, while Kallarkutty released 500 cusecs.

Authorities have alerted residents living along the Kallar and Chinnar rivers about possible flooding due to the sudden water release.

The Idukki reservoir, the largest in Kerala, had a water level of 2,381.92 feet as of 7 am on Saturday, with a live storage of 75.80%, officials noted. As of now, all shutters of the dam remain closed.

(With PTI inputs)