The weather department predicted a decrease in rainfall with light to moderate rain across the state till 12 July.
Yellow alert has been issued to four districts on Saturday. (Supplied)
Isolated heavy rains that continued to lash parts of Kerala flooded low-lying areas and affected vehicular traffic in several places on Saturday, 8 July.
Nine people were killed in rain-related incidents while 7,844 others were shifted to 203 relief camps across the state, figures from the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) revealed.
Though the rains have weakened compared to the previous days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) sounded a yellow alert for seven districts: Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod.
Incessant rains pounded many areas of Kochi and the Idukki district in the morning hours. Northern districts like Kozhikode, too, received heavy downpours.
Uprooted trees held up vehicular traffic on the national highways in Kozhikode and the Kannur-Thalassery stretch in the morning. Traffic resumed at both places after the fire service personnel cleared the road. Waterlogging on roads affected normal life in Pathanamthitta and Thiruvalla.
Though there was a slight respite from extremely heavy rainfall, many people continued to stay in relief camps opened in various parts of the state.
The Revenue Department opened more relief camps in Alappuzha on Friday after floodwaters submerged more villages in Kuttanad, Upper Kuttanad, and other low-lying areas in the district, much of which is below sea level.
Five more camps were opened in Chengannur taluk, two in Cherthala, and one in Mavelikkara.
On Saturday morning, the authorities recovered the body of a youth who drowned in the sea at Koyilandy on Thursday night. The body of Valiyamangat Puthiyapurayil Anoop aka Sundaran (36), was recovered from the seashore near Uppalakkandy Temple, adjacent to the harbour.
The body of a Plus-Two student, who had gone missing in the Cheruparambu River in Kannur’s Panoor, was recovered on Friday.
Sea water entered houses at various places along the Kerala coast, especially in the Kannamaly area of Ernakulam. The residents demanded the government construct a tetrapod wall to prevent seawater from entering their houses and eroding the coast.
A similar demand was made by residents living in the coastal area of Ponnani in the Malappuram district.
“The situation in several parts of the coastal area is serious and the chief minister has directed to initiate appropriate action,” Fisheries Minister Saji Cheriyan said.
Speaking to reporters in Thrissur, Revenue Minister K Rajan said the Cabinet discussed coastal on Wednesday, 5 July, and the irrigation department has been directed to sanction funds and take necessary steps wherever urgent work was required.
Rajan also said that while the next few days might be relatively calm, the weather would worsen again from 12 July.
The Central Water Commission (CWC) issued flood warnings to those living by the rivers, such as Meenachil, Manimala, Achankovil, and Pampa, as water levels went above the danger mark.
The CWC also cautioned those living on the banks of these rivers to be vigilant as the rains would continue.
Meanwhile, one shutter of the Peringalkuthu dam in the Thrissur district was raised by four feet on Friday to release 370 cusecs of water.
Thrissur district collector VR Krishna Teja advised those living close to the Chalakudy River to maintain caution.
The shutters of some dams like the Malankara Dam in the Idukki district were also opened to release water, following heavy rains in their catchment areas.
Water was also released from Kallarkutti and Lower Periyar reservoirs in Idukki, Kuttiyadi dam in Kozhikode, Maniyar barrage in Pathanamthitta, Pazhassi barrage in Kannur and Bhoothathankettu in Ernakulam.
However, the water levels in many other dams and reservoirs remained normal.
The IMD predicted a decrease in rainfall with light to moderate rain across the state till 12 July.
“The active stage of the monsoon cycle has ended it will be calm for a few days,” Abhilash S, associate professor at the Department of Atmospheric Sciences in the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), told South First.
“Wind speed and an off-shore trough between the Kerala and Gujarat coasts resulted in the high-intensity rains over the past few days,” he added.
Abhilash said similar spells of rain were common every monsoon season, like a cycle, and it could be expected at least three times a season, any time between June and September.
In case of emergency, the public may contact the district helpline numbers.
(With PTI inputs)
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