Representational image | Photo: Arun Krishnankutty | Mathrubhumi
Thiruvananthapuram: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned of heavy thunderstorm in Kerala for the next five days. Torrential downpour is expected in the state on Wednesday and Thursday and it may intensify in the hilly regions. IMD also pointed out the chances of cloudburst.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan urged the people living on the premises of rivers and dams, which were opened due to the heavy rainfall, to stay vigilant. He had directed to relocate the people who reside in ruined houses or dangerous situations near riversides.
“People should not be overconfident by seeing a break in rainfall today. All people, especially those who live in coastal, hilly or other disaster-prone areas must be very alert. The weather department may go wrong sometime, but we should not neglect warnings,” said the CM.
Disaster response teams remain vigilant
Considering natural calamities and rain alerts, 11 teams of disaster response force have been deployed in Kerala.
Control rooms opened
Control rooms that function 24 hours a day are opened at Taluk level in all districts.
254 relief camps
New relief camps were opened in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad and Malappuram districts. 10,815 people from 3093 families were relocated into 254 relief camps already.
39 deaths within a week
Minister K Rajan informed that 39 deaths were reported in the rain-induced calamities from October 12 to 19. Five persons are yet to be found out.