Heavy rain to continue for two more days

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, AUG. 23. Monsoon rain lashed Kerala for the third successive day on Wednesday as the low pressure zone centred in the Bay of Bengal off the coast of Andhra Pradesh intensified into a depression.

Almost all the districts in Kerala received good rain during the last three days. The MET Centre has forecast widespread rain or thunder showers in Kerala and Lakshadweep with isolated heavy spells during the next two days.

The Director of the MET Centre, Mr. V. K. Gangadharan, said the formation of a low pressure zone in the Bay of Bengal was typical of the monsoon. Once the zone intensifies into a depression, it strengthens the monsoon winds bringing copious rain in its wake. The low pressure zone is expected to move in the west or north westerly direction and gradually weaken after crossing the coast.

The three-day spell of heavy rain in Kerala has brought down the deficiency of rainfall during the South-West Monsoon. The deficiency in the rainfall recorded from June 1 up to last week was 34 per cent. This shortfall has been reduced to 29 per cent by Tuesday and is expected to come down further, Mr. Gangadharan said.

Idukki received the maximum rain bringing down the deficiency to five per cent. The following is the rainfall recorded at various places over the 24 hours ending 8.30 am on Tuesday: Idukki- 13 cm, Nilambur- 10 cm, Kodungalloor and Vythiri- 9, Aluva, Piravam and Chittur- 8, Mananthavady and Perumbavoor- 7, Chalakudy and Kumarakom- 6, Kottayam, Palakkad, Punalur, Hosdurg, Ottapalam, Kuppady and Thaliparamba- 5.

Apart from Kerala, almost all the drought- hit areas in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh also received good rain in the current spell.

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Section  : Southern States
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