Sea erosion in coastal areas due to heavy rains in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: When northern parts of the country is reeling under heat wave and expected to abate gradually with easterly winds, southwest monsoon in Kerala brings in heavy to very heavy rains and sea erosion in coastal areas. Heavy rains will continue to lash parts of Kerala till July 2 accompanied by squally winds and high waves with sea erosion, flash floods and landslides likely in parts of the state.


Though it’s a respite that this season Kerala has received 40 per cent excess rains, the thunderstorms and coastal erosion has left 23 houses fully damaged across the state by Tuesday evening. The order prohibiting public and tourists to Shankumugham beach will prevail till the severe sea erosion subsides.

"Southwest monsoon is active in Kerala with heavy rains till June 2 in parts of Kerala and after a brief lull for the next two days, it is expected to intensify further with heavy rains. This season from March 1 till May 30, Kerala has received 40 percent excess rains which is a good sign for the state. Yet due to strong winds and high waves along the coast, we have advised fishermen to be cautious," K Santosh, director of

Indian Meteorological Department

(IMD) here told TOI. In the last 24 hours, Taliparamba in Kannur and Kudulu in Kasaragod recorded the maximum 12 cm rains.

"Due to heavy rains, high waves and strong winds, sea erosion alert will continue in coastal districts of Kerala. Till Tuesday evening, coastal erosion in coastal areas of Kerala has left 23 houses fully damaged and 113 houses partially damaged. The damages incurred on Wednesday and the crop loss is yet to be assessed. Prohibitory order issued by

District Disaster Management Authority

chairman K Vasuki to prohibit entry of the public and tourists to

Sanghumugham

beach due to sea erosion from 5 pm on May 29 due to sea erosion will prevail till it subsides,"

Kerala State Disaster Management Authority

(KSDMA) member secretary Sekhar Kuriakose told TOI.

Two temporary relief shelters have been opened, one each in Thiruvananthapuram and Alappuzha, KSDMA officials said.

IMD, KSDMA and Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) have warned of Strong winds from Westerly to North-westerly direction speed reaching 35 to45 kmph along and off Kerala coast. They has also alerted High waves in the range of 2.5 - 3.5 meters (8 to 12 feet) are forecast during 5.30 pm on May 29 to 11.30 pm on May 30 along the coast of Kerala from

Vizhinjam

to Kasaragod. KSDMA had also sounded a high alert advising the maritime ports in Kerala to hoist cautionary Signal 3 which warns of adverse weather conditions with gusty winds and high waves in the sea. They have advised fishermen to be cautious while venturing into the sea.