New Delhi:
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red alerts in seven districts of Kerala for today. The IMD has predicted extremely heavy rainfall above 20.4 cm in next 24 hours due to low pressure area persisting over east-central Arabian Sea. The red alerts were issued for Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur and Palakkad districts while as Orange alert was issued for Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad. Kannur and Kasargod can expect isolated heavy rainfall, the IMD said.
Fishermen have been warned not to put out to sea as squally weather with wind speed reaching 45-55 kmph is likely to prevail over Kerala coast. Heavy rainfall is likely to continue in the State till at least Friday, according to the IMD.
Despite heavy rains voters queued up at polling stations in the five assembly constituencies in Kerala on Monday where bypolls are being held, to cast their franchise.
A total of 9.57 lakh voters are expected to participate in the bypolls being held in Vattiyoorkavu (Thiruvananthapuram), Aroor (Alapuzha), Konni (Pathnamthitta),
Ernakulam and Manjeshwaram (Kasaragod).
A total of 896 polling stations have been set up in the constituencies.
According to early reports, except manjeshwaram, it is raining heavily in the four other constituencies.
The ruling CPI(m)-led LDF, the main opposition Congress headed UDF and the BJP-NDA had put up a stiff fight to woo voters in all the five constituencies—four of which were held by the UDF and one by the LDF.
