Heavy rains are likely to flood Kerala in August even as the state continues to reel under crisis due to the novel coronavirus and its social and economic impact.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned the Kerala government that the southern state would be hit with heavy rains above normal level in August.
South West Monsoon is expected to arrive Kerala on June 1.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the state might have to face flood situation for the third time consecutively and therefore the government is taking steps to meet the challenges in advance.
“The WHO [World Health Organisation] has stated that we have to live with Covid-19 infection for a longer period than what we have anticipated. The virus is going to stay with us at least six months or more. Adding to the crisis, we may get hit with another deluge this time too. We have taken steps in advance to minimise the impact of floods and the State Disaster Management Authority has charted out an action plan to deal with the crisis,” Pinarayi Vijayan said.
The state had witnessed megafloods in August 2018 for the first time in its history of 94 years, killing 483 people. During the time, 140 persons were accounted missing.
In August 2019, floods hit the state killing 121 persons.
The state has been receiving above-normal rains for the past one week and water inflow to dams has increased considerably.
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