Thiruvananthapuram: The official weather department has issued a warning of heavy rainfall across the state this week with thunderstorms and strong winds to lash across the state. Due to heavy rainfall predicted by the IMD, an orange alert has been issued for Pathanamthitta and Idukki districts.
The past 24 hours witnessed heavy downpour across central and south Kerala with water logging reported in major roads connecting Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram. Traffic were halted in the service roads of Ernakulam after trees were uprooted. However, no major untoward incidents were reported.
A yellow alert has been issued for the districts of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, and Malappuram. Residents in areas vulnerable to landslides, mudslides, and flash floods have been urged to relocate to safer areas as per the authorities’ instructions. People living in the coastal areas were asked to be cautious and not to go near the sea as
On Wednesday, widespread rain was reported in Kollam, Pathanamthitta, and Thiruvananthapuram districts. A landslide on the Vithura-Bonacaud road in Thiruvananthapuram partially blocked traffic, with restoration expected by Thursday. Meanwhile, the water level in the Vamanapuram river has risen.
In Kochi, a section of the boundary wall surrounding the CUSAT grounds collapsed due to heavy rainfall. The 10-meter-high wall fell around 8:30 pm, but fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Waterspout in Vizhinjam
A waterspout is a rotating column phenomenon of air that occurs over a body of water, usually appearing as a funnel-shaped cloud in contact with the water and a cumuliform cloud. Fishermen who spotted the air column in the sea recorded it on their phones. See video.
During this phenomenon, a cloud sheet resembling lightning and a fountain descends into the sea from the dark clouds in the sky, causing the water to churn and form a vortex. Water rises in a funnel shape in several parts of the sea. The sudden pressure difference between the clouds is what triggers the waterspout phenomenon
