Red alert in 7 dists of Kerala

As rth East Monsoon became vigorous over Kerala, a 'red alert' has been sounded in 7 districts on Monday with heavy to very heavy rains and extremely heavy falls being forecast at isolated places over sourn state and Mahe.

According to Kerala State Disaster Manment Authority red alert has been issued in Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur and Palakk on Monday and in four districts on Tuesday.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has asked people to be vigilant.

red alert is a call to immediately take preventive steps to evacuate people from vulnerable areas to shelter camps and provide ors with emergency kits.

According to Indian Meteorological Department, squally wear is very likely over east-central and joining souast Arabian Sea along with Maharashtra-Goa-Karnataka-Kerala coasts, Lakshweep and Comorin and over southwest and joining west-central Bay of Bengal along with rth Tamil Nu-south Andhra Presh coast.

Kochi witnessed severe waterlogging with heavy rains pounding commercial city and nearby areas in morning, affecting polling.

Voters h to we through knee deep muddy waters to cast ir franchise. Most of public transport also kept away in many places.

According to IMD, Ernakulam South recorded highest rains of 20 cm, followed by Vaikom in Kottayam 19 cm, Alapuzha, Mancompu (Alappuzha district)17 each, Kochi 16, Kozha (Kottayam district) 15, Punalur (Kollam district), Kanjirappally (Kottayam district) 12 each and Konni (Pathanamthitta district)11 cm.

Fishermen have been vised t to put to sea due to rough seas.

Due to waterlogging in rail tracks in Ernakulam Sourn Railways cancelled Monday's Ernakulam-KSR Bengaluru Express and Kannur-Ernakulam Intercity express and Bengaluru-Ernakulam express of Tuesday.

Twelve passengers trains of Monday have been fully cancelled.

Thiruvananthapuram-Kannur Janshatabdi express of Monday and Kannur-Thiruvananthapuram Janshatabdi express of Tuesday were also cancelled.

In Thiruvananthapuram district, in hilly and coastal areas restriction has been imposed for tourism related activities in next 48 hours, according to sources.

People staying near coastal areas and near dams should remain vigilant due to red alert in district, Collector K Gopalakrishnan said in a press release.