Kerala weather forecast: Red alert for 9 dams; holiday for Thrissur schools, colleges; exams postponed

Kerala is set to witness heavy rain till August 20 as the monsoon gains intensity due a low-pressure area expected to form over the Bay of Bengal on Monday.

IMD has issued an orange alert for Kasaragod, Kannur and Wayanad districts while Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad, Thrissur, Idukki and Ernakulam districts were put under yellow alert. There have been heavy rain and strong winds in these districts since August 14.

Red alert for 9 dams

At least nine dams were issued a red alert with shutters being opened due to continuous downpour. These include Banasurasagar dam in Wayanad, Sholayar and Perigalkuthu dams in Thrissur, Lower Periyar, Kallarkutty, Mattupetty and Erattayar dams in Idukki, Kakki and Moozhiyar dams in Pathanamthitta. 

The spillway shutters of Banasurasagar dam were raised by 20 cm around 4 pm on Sunday while three shutters of Moozhiyaar dams was opend 20 to 50 cm.

Holiday in Thrissur

Thrissur district collector Arjun Pandian has declared a holiday for schools and colleges for Monday. This is applicable to all institutions including, CBSE, ICSE, Kendriya Vidyalayas, anganwadis, madrassas and tuition centres. School-level examinations scheduled for Monday have also been postponed in view of rain. The dates of postponed Onam exam will announced later, state the collector.

The collector said the precautionary measures are based on waterlogging at several areas in the district. He urged the students to stay indoors and avoid venturing into water bodies and waterlogged areas. He advised them to use the holiday to prepare for the upcoming exams.

Fishermen have been advised to avoid venturing into the sea as winds are expected to reach up to 65 kmph. Besides Kerala, fishing has been banned on the coasts of Karnataka and Lakshadweep on Monday.