Parts of Kerala get brief respite from rain; orange alert in 8 northern districts

After days of incessant rains, the southern districts in Kerala on Friday got some respite as rains subsided while the Met department issued an Orange alert to eight districts in the northern part of Kerala for the day.

As per reports, the IMD has issued an Orange alert indicating isolated heavy rainfall for Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod districts of Kerala.

The state's longest river, Periyar overflowed and flooded the surrounding villages. Other rivers including Chalakkudi, Pampa, Manimala, and Achankovil are close to or crossing danger levels due to the incessant rainfall.

Thousands of residents in central and north Kerala districts were evacuated on Thursday after monsoon rains caused floodwaters to rise in various rivers, forcing authorities to open shutters of dams to manage water level in reservoirs.

At least 19 people have died in the heavy rains and flooding in the state since July 31. It also caused damage to 32 properties completely and 232 partially, the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) said.

Meanwhile, amid heavy rainfall, the state government issued a warning against the spread of various contagious diseases including air and water-borne, zoonotic and vector-borne infections and issued directives to be followed to prevent it.

The health department said that rat fever, dengue, diarrhea, typhoid, jaundice and viral fever were of the diseases which could widely spread during floods, and utmost vigil should be paid against its outbreak.