Monsoon surge in Kerala, highest downpour in two decades

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Heavy monsoons in the month of September has fainted the fear of lack of rainfall in Kerala. Meteorological findings state that slump in the monsoon rainfall in early months has resulted in the sudden surge in downpours. Kerala witnesses around 245 millimetre (mm) of rainfall every year in the month of September. However, the state has recorded around 568 mm of rainfall this year, breaking the previous record of 562 mm of rainfall in 1998. Last year, the state received 425mm rainfall in September.

Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister, Government of Kerala, said that the state has recorded almost 169.5mm rainfall in past four days, which is five times of the usual 32.5mm of rainfall. All in all, this year’s monsoon brought around 11 per cent extra rainfall and has resulted in the filling up of all dams in Kerala. He added that due to the current situation, around five teams have been  stationed by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) in Nilambur, Thrissur, Munnar, Kozhikode and Wayanad. So far, five people have succumbed to the heavy rains.

M G Manoj, Scientist, Cusat Advanced Centre for Atmospheric Radar Research, said that the intensity of rains has decreased but there is a cloud band over south Kerala. The state will receive continuous showers for 3-4 days.

Idukki dam is around 83 per cent filled and is just 3 feet short of issuing blue alert. Water level of the dam was recorded 2374.82 ft on September 10, but due to heavy rains, it rose to 2384.64 ft by September 22.