Thiruvananthapuram, August 3 (BPNS)

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday has withdrawn the red alert it issued for Kerala. However, it issued an orange alert to 12 districts and a yellow alert to the remaining two as a cyclonic circulation lies over westcentral and adjoining the southwest Bay of Bengal off south Andhra Pradesh-north Tamil Nadu coasts in lower tropospheric levels. According to the IMD, enhanced rainfall activity is likely to continue over the south peninsula during the next three days.

At the same time, on the day, three houses were completely destroyed and 72 houses were partially destroyed. With this, a total of 30 houses were completely destroyed and 198 houses were partially destroyed since the rains lashed the state on July 30.

To date, 178 relief camps were opened and 5168 persons were evacuated from various places to safe locations. So far, 12 people have lost their lives in separate rain related incidents from various parts of the state. 

The orange alert has been issued for Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasargod districts. The yellow alert is for Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram districts.

At the same time, educational institutions of Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Idukki districts and Thiruvalla (of Pathanamthitta) and Kothamangalam and Muvattupuzha (of Ernakulam) taluks will remain shut on Thursday due to the incessant rains.

Meanwhile, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan directed all district collectors to make necessary arrangements to shift those tourists who got trapped in rain-affected areas to safe places. The CM also added that those who are staying at tourism centers and resorts need not be shifted provided such places are safe for them.