Heavy rain forecast in Kerala, parts of Trivandrum hit hardest

Torrential downpours hit the capital city of Trivandrum on November 12 causing damage to several parts of the city such as Neyyattinkara where a highway bridge partially-collapsed and Vizhinjam where local shops and homes were flooded with water as the Gangayar overflowed nearby. Trains on the Trivandrum-Nagercoil route have been delayed after a mudslide on the railway tracks near Irani.

The shutters of the Aruvikkara dam were raised by 60 cms at 9 am today to release excess water. The Indian Meteorological Department has released a bulletin warning citizens of "heavy to very heavy" rainfall in isolated parts of the state until November 16. An orange alert had been issued in six districts (Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam and Idukki) on Saturday, and an additional five districts (Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam and Idukki) for Sunday.

Meanwhile, Kerala's Water Resource Minister Roshy Augustine has announced that the shutters of Idukki dam would remain closed unless the water levels breached 2,399.03 ft, the level for issuing red alert, or if the Mullaperiyar dam opened which meant water would have to be released from Idukki too. Idukki district collector said the shutters of the Cheruthoni Dam of the Idukki reservoir might be opened on Saturday or Sunday in case the rain continues, news agency PTI reported. The collector warned people living downstream the Idukki dam and along the banks of Periyar river to remain cautious.