Kerala: Heavy rainfall, followed by thunderstorms and lightning, lashed several parts of Kerala on Thursday as the India Meteorological Department issued an Orange Alert for 8 districts of the state indicating very heavy showers. "Southwest monsoon has been active over Kerala. Rain occurred at most places in the state and at a few places in Lakshadweep," an IMD statement said.

The IMD, in its latest update, put the districts- Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Kannur- on Orange alert. A 'Yellow alert', forecasting isolated heavy rainfall, was issued for Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Kasaragod districts for the day. Fishermen were advised not to attempt into the sea in the state as squally weather with wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph is likely to prevail over Kerala coast on Thursday, it added. The southern state was ravaged by heavy downpour and subsequent landslides in the south-central districts On October 15 and 16 which resulted in the loss of 42 lives and six people going missing. 

A Red alert indicates heavy to enormously heavy rains of over 20 cm in 24 hours, while Orange alert denotes very heavy rains from 6 cm to 20 cm of rains. A yellow alert implies heavy rainfall between 6 to 11 cm.

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