Cyclone: Kerala coastal regions submerged in sea turbulence

Thiruvananthapuram: Several parts of Kerala are experiencing heavy downpours on a predicted cyclonic disturbance over Lakshadweep and the Arabian Sea in the next 36 hours.

This warning from the India Meteorological Department has prompted the authorities to issue red alert caution to five districts in Kerala. Following the warning, the National Disaster Response Force has deployed several teams on the ground.

Several coastal regions of Kerala are said to have been submerged due to sea turbulence. As per the warning, Kerala and Tamil Nadu will experience extremely heavy rainfalls till 16 May.

The problem of flooding is particularly serious in Chellanam, a coastal village in Ernakulam district, due to its proximity to the sea. In the absence of a strong sea wall and groynes, parts of the village are routinely inundated by seawater during high tide.

During storms and cyclones, dozens of homes near the sea are flooded with residents fleeing to relief camps and homes of relatives and friends in higher areas.

Owing to the cyclonic disturbance, heavy to very heavy rainfall is also expected over Lakshadweep in the next 24 hours. A "high intensity" cyclone is also predicted to reach the Gujarat coast by May 18.

At least 24 teams are pre-deployed and 29 teams are on standby for Gujarat, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, NDRF DG, SN Pradhan told ANI.