The Indian Meteorological Department has lifted the red warning from across Kerala, hours after heavy rains lashed parts of the state. The red warning, that indicates the necessity of immediate action, had been issued in seven districts on Monday. Four districts were given a red warning for Tuesday, but these were lifted later.
On Wednesday morning, an orange warning — to be alert and be prepared — is in place for Idukki and Malappuram districts, while green (no warning) or yellow (to watch) warnings are in place for all the other districts. On Tuesday, an orange warning was in place only for Idukki district.
Parts of Kerala have been experiencing heavy rainfall since Sunday due to a low-pressure area formed over East Central Arabian Sea, which has been predicted to turn into a depression. Educational institutes remained closed on Monday and Tuesday.
In the worst affected district, Ernakulam, five relief centres have been set up. Waterlogging in arterial roads such as MG Road, Ernakulam North and Menaka led to bottlenecks in these areas.
Roads and railway tracks in various central Kerala districts started to submerge in the incessant rains. Several trains were cancelled or partially cancelled due to waterlogging.
The bye-elections in the state on Monday have also been affected, especially in Ernakulam. Rains temporarily affected the polling operations in some booths. However no re-polling will be conducted, said Teeka Ram Meena, Chief Electoral Officer.
Though the depression in the Arabian Sea that has brought heavy rainfall to Kerala is expected to pass on within two days, another low-pressure area is also likely to form over the southwest and the west-central Bay of Bengal on Wednesday.