Kerala, which was ravaged by the south west monsoon in August, is bracing for more rains with a low pressure area likely to form over the Southeast Arabian sea, as the state government stepped up disaster preparedness Thursday.
Kerala's neighbour, Tamil Nadu has initiated measures following an IMD forecast that the state may receive heavy to very heavy rainfall in most places and extremely heavy rainfall in some areas on October 7, officials said.
An Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) bulletin said the low pressure area could intensify into a cyclonic storm, triggering heavy to very heavy rainfall in several parts of Kerala.
In view of the IMD forecast, a red alert has been sounded in Idukki and Malappuram districts with heavy rains expected on Sunday.
According to the bulletin, a cylonic circulation over southeast Arabian Sea andadjoining Lakshadweep and Maldives areas extended "upto middle tropospheric level in the morning of Thursday and under its influence, a low pressure area is very likely to form over southeast Arabian Sea by October 6."