Rains have been wreaking havoc in southern India. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD)'s chart usually provides green warnings (no action required) for district rainfall in Kerala this time of year. However, this September, the state has received more than twice the normal rainfall as it usually does. A report by a leading daily states that the rainfall of 568 mm that Kerala received this month is one of the highest September rainfall in three decades. In September 1998, 562 mm of rainfall was recorded and 526 mm was recorded in 2007.
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In the past four days alone, the state has in total received 169.5 mm of rainfall, which is five times the normal amount. From June 1 to September 23, Kerala received 2206.9 mm of rainfall, which is 11% more than the normal amount, reports the IMD. However, a departure up to 11% from the usual value is still considered normal. There have been five deaths due to rain-related incidents in Kerala, said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been assigned to the districts of Wayanad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Thrissur and Idukki that have been receiving heavy rainfall.
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Dams have been filled up in several places, forcing shutters to be opened. Water levels have reached close to Full Reservoir Level in Banasura in Wayanad, Sholayar and Poringalkuthu in Thrissur, Muzhiyar in Pathanamthitta and five dams in Idukki including Ponmudi, Kundala, Kallarkutti, Irattayar and Lower Periyar. Fishermen across the Kerala coast are being advised not to venture out to sea since strong winds, with speeds reaching 45 to 55 km/hour, are likely to prevail. From Pozhiyoor to Kasargod coast, high tides of 3.2 to 3.6 meters are expected till September 23 night, informed the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services.
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