Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, on Friday night, put out a statement informing that the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a ‘red alert’ in four districts in Kerala in the coming days. Red alert, which means ‘very heavy’ to ‘extremely heavy’ rainfall, has been issued in the district of Thrissur on June 10 and in the districts of Ernakulam, Malappuram and Kozhikode on June 11. 

According to the Chief Minister’s office, the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA), as a result of the red alert, has instructed various departments to take the necessary preventive measures ahead of the rains. Instructions have been given to set up control rooms at the taluk level as well as to set up relief camps if the need arises.

The IMD has also issued an orange alert in eight districts of the state on June 9. The districts in which an orange alert has been issued are Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram and Kozhikode. Orange alert is issued when an area is expected to experience ‘isolated heavy’ to ‘very heavy’ rainfall. 

In view of the devastating floods which affected Kerala in August 2018, the KSDMA has also come out with a ‘Monsoon preparedness and disaster relief’ handbook, which contains instructions for various departments as to what needs to be done ahead of the monsoon, as well as how to respond in case of a disaster. 

The IMD has also predicted squally weather with winds reaching 35-45 kmph, which is likely to prevail over southwest Arabian sea off the coast of Lakshadweep, Maldives area and Gulf of Mannar. Fishermen have been advised not to venture out to sea from June 7-11 in these areas.