The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) on Sunday has informed that the rains in the state are likely to persist in the coming days. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), too, has issued Red and Orange alerts in various districts of the state.

As per the IMD, a red alert has been issued in the districts of Kozhikode, Wayanad and Kannur for Monday, July 22, and in the districts of Kannur and Kasaragod for Tuesday, July 23. The districts in which a red alert has been issued are likely to experience ‘extremely heavy’ rainfall, that is, more than 204 mm, in 24 hours.

The intention behind issuing a red alert is for the state machinery and the general public to be aware and to take the necessary precautions in terms of setting up emergency relief camps and so on. In a situation of heavy rainfall in the consecutive days, there are also chances of flooding, landslides and other natural disasters.

The IMD has issued Orange alert in the districts of Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Malappuram and Kasaragod for July 22 and in Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad districts for July 23. The districts of Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod have been issued Orange alert for July 24. The districts that have been issued orange alert are likely to experience heavy (up to 115 mm) to very heavy (between 115 mm and 204.5 mm) rain in isolated areas.

Precautions to take

Almost a year after the devastating flood that hit the state of Kerala in August 2018, the KSDMA is leaving no stone unturned in putting in place measures to prepare the state to face the monsoon season. It has come up 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 KSDMA has also prepared a map of Kerala, which has marked the flood-prone and landslide-prone areas of the state. People living in these disaster-prone areas have been requested to keep all their certificates and important documents in plastic covers and keep it at a safe height as well as to prepare a safety kit, kept at a place in the house that is accessible to all.

The KSDMA has also put a list of items that everyone must have in their emergency kits. They are:

• Torch

• 500 ml water bottle

• ORS packet

• Necessary medicines

• A small bottle of antiseptic lotion

• 10 chlorine tablets

• A battery bank or batteries for torch lights

• Some money for emergency

The public has also been requested to cooperate with the officials and move out of their homes to relief camps when asked by the officials. 

Additionally, the disaster management authority has also issued strict warnings to avoid travelling through hilly terrains in the night hours as well as to avoid parking near any of these terrains or streams as there are chances of landslides. The KSDMA has also issued other major instructions such as discouraging the spread of false messages on social media and passing on information only from official sources.