Extremely heavy rains forecast, red alerts in 6 Kerala districts

The second spell of the South West Monsoon is starting Wednesday and there is a possiblity of formation of low pressure in the Bay of Bengal, Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) sources told PTI.

"Since there are possiblities of flooding and landslides, people have been asked to be extremely cautious and take necessary precaution to keep themselves safe," Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said in a Facebook Post. 

Officials have asked to open control rooms at taluk level. Fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea during the period owing to bad weather conditions, the agency added. 

The weather forecasting agency IMD on Tuesday issued a red alert in Idukki and Malappuram districts for July 18.

On July 19, a red alert will be in effect in various districts like Idukki, Malappuram, Kannur and Wayanad, IMD said.

Moreover, it also predicted heavy rainfall in Thrissur, Ernakulam, Idukki and Malappuram on July 20. 

Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea as strong winds from westerly direction and speed reaching 40-50 kmph is likely along and off the Kerala and Lakshadweep coasts.

The South West Monsoon had made its footfall in Kerala on June 8, a week late, marking the official commencement of the four-month rainfall season in the country.

There has been a 46 per cent deficiency of rainfall till July 15.

The flood fury continued in Bihar and Assam Tuesday with the death toll in the region mounting to 55.  The deluge has affected 33 districts of Assam and claimed 17 lives. More than 45 lakh people have been hit by the nature's fury, they said. 

Ninety per cent of the famed Kaziranga National Park in Golaghat and Nagaon districts of the state is still submerged, a statement from the Assam Ministry of Forest and Environment said. The Kaziranga National Park is home to the world's largest population of Indian one-horned rhinoceroses.

With over 150 anti-poaching camps in the Kaziranga National Park affected by the Assam floods, the authorities are working round-the-clock to check poaching at the UNESCO World Heritage site. 

According to Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) report, Brahmaputra river and its tributaries are flowing above the danger level in most of the affected districts, including in Guwahati. In Guwahati, the flood waters of the Brahmaputra have
submerged Uzanbazar, Kharguli and Bharalamukh areas.

The flood situation in Manas National Park and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary is also critical as vast stretches in them have been inundated and animals are moving towards the neighbouring highlands.

In flood-hit Bihar, 33 people have so far been killed in flash floods and 25.71 lakh people affected in 16 districts. According to officials, unusual torrential rainfall in catchment areas in Nepal and subsequent massive discharge of water in rivers led to flash floods in Bihar where more than one lakh people have been moved to safer areas. 

According to the state's Disaster Management authority, the maximum number of 11 casualties have been reported from Sitamarhi district where 12 lakh people have been hit by the deluge.

The East Central Railway zone, headquartered in the district's Hajipur, said movement of trains has been suspended on Kamtaul-Jogiyara section in view of inundation of a rail bridge.

The second worst-affected district was Araria, where 8.86 lakh people have been affected by the floods which has killed nine.

In Sheohar, five girls aged between 10 and 15 years were killed after being swept away by a gush of water while taking bath in a canal at their village in Tariyani sub-division of the district, officials said. Another girl was injured.

Authorities stated that the total number of casualties so far in the district is seven while 80,000 people are affected.

Four deaths from Kishanganj and two from Supaul have also been reported.

Seven other districts hit by the deluge are East Champaran, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Saharsa, Katihar and Purnea, but no casualty has been reported from there so far.