Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday said that red alert has been declared in three districts - Idukki, Palakkad, and Thrissur on October 7. Addressing the media, the Kerala Chief Minister said that the state government has sought support from the central agencies and have asked for five teams of the Disaster Response Force (NDRF). "Fishermen have been advised to reach the safer coast by October 5. The warning has been issued. A red alert has been declared in three districts - Idukki, Palakkad and Thrissur for October 7. Disaster Management Authority has met to assess the situation. We have sought support from central agencies and asked for five companies of the NDRF," he said. Even as Kerala continues to recover from the devastating floods that destructed the state, Vijayan also advised tourists visiting Kerala not to travel to hilly regions, especially to Munnar, to see the Neelakurinji. He added, "District administration has been directed to take necessary action to handle the crisis. Tourists have been advised not to travel to hilly regions, especially to Munnar to see the Neelakurinji." Later, Vijayan said in a series of tweets, "Met Centre has predicted that heavy (7-11 cm in 24 hours) to very heavy (12-20 cm in 24 hours) rainfall is likely to occur at 1 or 2 places in Kerala on 3rd, 4th, 5th & 6th of October. Extremely heavy rainfall (21 cm & above in 24 hrs) is likely to occur at 1 or 2 places on 7th." He said, "No one must venture into seas after October 4th. This information will be communicated to people in coastal areas using loudspeakers and other facilities." The Chief Minister further said, "As the low-pressure system could intensify into a cyclone, it has been decided to take precautionary measures on a war footing. Directions have been given to the district collectors." In August, Kerala was hit by the worst floods in nearly a century, which claimed lives of more than 400 people and caused damage to the tune of nearly Rs 20,000 crore. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)<doc-sep>Indian Coast Guard on high alert after IMD cyclone warning in Arabian Sea. | Photo Credit: ANI Kochi: Three districts of Kerala have been put on red alert for Sunday, October 7, as heavy rainfall is expected in the area. The Indian Coast Guard has also been put on high alert for deployment at a short notice. The government has sprung into action as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall earlier. The Indian Coast Guard has been put on high alert after IMD informed of the formation of low pressure in South East Arabian Sea on October 1. The IMD further said that it will likely develop into depression and finally into a cyclonic storm. On October 3, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that Idukki, Palakkad, and Thrissur have been declared to be on high alert for October 7. It is due to the depression's influence that Kerala will receive heavy rainfall. Further, the Coast Guard Dorniers and ships have been deployed off Kerala in view of the forecast. They will also broadcast warnings of very high frequency (VHF). Fishermen at sea will also be advised to return to the harbour. #WATCH: Indian Coast Guard formations have been put on high alert after issuance of warning by IMD regarding formation of low pressure in South East Arabian Sea on 1 October & likely development into depression. (Video source: Indian Coast Guard) pic.twitter.com/Bc4bfCmJGY — ANI (@ANI) October 7, 2018 Response teams of the Indian Coast Guard have also been formed at Kochi while Gemini life boats have been kept on standby for deployment. Earlier on Friday, the Director of IMD, Thiruvananthapuram, K Santosh, had said that the area of depression that was formed in the Arabian Sea will likely intensify into a cyclonic storm. “Under its influence, Kerala is expected to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall for the next five days. Fishermen have been advised to not venture into the sea for the next three-four days,” Santosh added. Meanwhile, the Additional Chief Secretary of the Disaster Management Department has opened a special cell with officials from Kerala state disaster management and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). On October 5, the Kerala government also opened Cheruthoni dam's spillway to release 50 cusecs of water. This was done after the dam was brimming as heavy rains lashed the area on October 4.<doc-sep>Bengaluru: Kerala, which is still struggling to cope with the effects of the devastating floods that hit the state in August , is likely to experience another spell of extremely heavy rainfall between 5 October and 8 October. A red alert has been issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday in Idukki, Thrissur and Palakkad districts, while a yellow alert has been issued in most other districts IMD issues yellow alert for a forecast of significant rainful and red alert for a forecast of heavy rainfall. IMD has predicted that a low-pressure area is likely to form over South-East Arabian Sea around 6 October, which would intensify into a depression and move north-westward in the subsequent 48 hours. “Heavy rainfall (7-11 cm) to very heavy rainfall (12-20 cm) is most likely to occur at one or two places in Kerala on 3-6 October and extremely heavy rainfall (21- above 24cm) is most likely to occur in one or two places on 7 October," said the Kerala disaster management cell. “There is no need to panic, but caution is advised," said Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, listing a series of precautionary measures at a press meet on Wednesday evening. Earlier in the day he held an urgent meeting of top officials to assess the developments. The state has banned fishermen from going out to sea and asked district collectors to be ready with resources to open relief camps if needed, the chief minister said. Vijayan also asked locals and tourists to avoid travelling in hilly areas, especially Idukki district’s Munnar, which is seeing a surge in tourists to see the once-in-12-years blooming of the flower ‘Neelakurinji’. “We advise people to exercise caution from October 5-8 as exceptionally heavy rains accompanied with squally winds are likely. Threat of localized flash flooding, landslides and overflowing of rivers and dams is looming large over the state," said private weather forecasting agency Skymet on its website. IMD has also predicted heavy rain this week in coastal districts of neighbouring Karnataka and scattered rain in other parts of the state. Sharan Poovanna contributed to this story. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter.<doc-sep>
Met Centre has predicted that heavy (7-11 cm in 24 hours) to very heavy (12-20 cm in 24 hours) rainfall is likely t… https://t.co/CAMiQffReu — CMO Kerala (@CMOKerala) 1538568740000 Kerala weather: Red Alert in 3 districts, CM calls emergency meet THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala government on Wednesday issued a red alert in three districts of the state for extremely heavy rains on October 7 after the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a warning about a cyclonic depression over southeast Arabian sea and adjoining Lakshadweep.The IMD has issued a heavy rain warning for heavy to very heavy rains till October 6 in many parts of Kerala, followed by extremely heavy rains on October 7 in Idukki, Palakkad and Thrissur districts. The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) has issued a red alert in three districts on October 7.An emergency meeting was convened by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan alerting the coastal population and fishermen to be cautious. He said Idukki, Palakkad and Thrissur will be on Red alert due to the possibility of a deluge or cyclonic storm with extremely heavy rains. "A low-pressure area is very likely to form over southeast Arabian sea and adjoining Lakshadweep area on October 6. It is likely to intensify into a depression and move north-westwards during subsequent 48 hours and the fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea," KSDMA member secretary State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) head scientist Sekharhi Kuriakose told TOI.Such a phenomenon has the possibility to cause sea erosion triggering floods and landslides, SEOC scientists warned. They have issued an advisory to all districts of the state. Till October 6, most districts in Kerala will be on Yellow alert which is the first level of disaster alert for caution and preparedness. Following that, the highest order of emergency warning or Red alert will be issued for three districts on October 7 due to extremely heavy rains of over 20cm.With KSDMA and IMD, Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has also issued the alert and advised fishermen not to venture into southeast and the central Arabian Sea from October 6 onwards. They also advised fishermen of deep-sea areas of southeast and the central Arabian Sea are advised to return to the coast before October 5With that, chief minister convened an emergency meeting with KSDMA scientists and officials here on Wednesday. "All preparedness will be in place with emergency measures on a war-footing in the state to minimise the risks involved in cases of any eventuality in Kerala due to extremely heavy rains and strong winds with rough seas. Three districts Idukki, Palakkad and Thrissur will be on Red alert on October 7," CM said at the meet. At low pressure over Southeast Arabian Sea will intensify into a depression, the effects of that could lead to sea erosion and flash floods and fishermen should be advised not to venture into the sea, he said. "For rescue, the support of five National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been sought," CM said. He also advised the tourists not to visit hilly areas such as Munnar in the wake of the tourist attraction to have a glimpse of Neelakuriji or Stobilanthus flowers that bloom once in 12 years. He also advised people not to visit landslide prone hilly areas and flood prone low lying areas during heavy to extremely heavy rains.