After the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued warning for heavy rainfall in Kerala till October 7, four shutters of Malampuzha dam in Palakkad district were opened on Thursday by 9 cm each.

The Met department has issued red alert in 3 districts of Central Kerala — Idukki, Palakkad and Thrissur — for October 7. Most parts of Kerala will see heavy rainfall by October 5th.

The warning comes just a month after disastrous floods killed over 400 people and displaced lakhs in the state.

“Low pressure and cyclone have increased the possibility of heavy to very heavy rainfall in many parts of the State,” Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s office tweeted.

The state government has decided to take precautionary measures on a war footing as the the low pressure system could intensify into a cyclone. Directions have been given to the district collectors.

People in coastal areas have been advised not to venture into seas after October 4.

As the low pressure is expected to cause strong winds and rough seas, fishermen who had gone into the sea were advised to reach the safest coastline before October 5.

The IMD has predicted that the formation of a low pressure area over Southeast Arabian Sea on October 5. It is likely to concentrate into a depression and move Northwestwards during the subsequent 48 hrs. It is also likely to intensify in to a cyclonic storm thereafter.

The Fisheries department was instructed to deliver warning message to fishing villages, fishing harbours, religious places of worship, representatives and other organizations active in coastal areas.

The government has instructed the concerned authorities to set up 24-hour control rooms from October 5 on wards for all dams in the state.

Electricity department and Water Resources department were instructed to ensure that shutter openings are not performed between 6 pm and 6 am.

Satellite phones were provided to the district collectors of Wayanad, Idukki and Ernakulam. Efforts are underway to issue such phones to the collectors of other districts as well, Pinarayi Vijayan’s office informed.

The Kerala government has also sought support from central agencies and asked for five companies of NDRF.

On 26 September, a yellow alert was issued for Idukki and Wayanad districts. Since 27 September, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Palakkad and Wayanad have been on high alert.