Heavy rainfall lashes Kerala, IMD issues Orange alert for three districts

Heavy rains continue to lash Kerala with parts of the state receiving over 200 mm of rain in the last 24 hours and places in major cities including Kochi and Thrissur remaining waterlogged on Friday. As the southern state reels under the impact of heavy pre-monsoon rains, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) today issued an Orange alert for three districts. An Orange alert has been issued for Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and Idukki districts. A red alert indicates heavy to extremely heavy rain of over 20 cm in 24 hours, while an orange alert denotes very heavy rainfall of 11 cm to 20 cm, and a yellow alert means heavy rainfall between 6 cm and 11 cm. State Revenue Minister K Rajan, who met the media today said parts of the state received over 20 cm of rain in the last 24 hours. Kunnamangalam in Kozhikode district received 226.2 mm of rain in the last 24 hours, he added. He said while Cherthala in Alappuzha district received 215 mm rain, Kumarakom in Kottayam district and Thamara