Thiruvananthapuram: Heavy rain is likely in the state till Monday as a result of low pressure, the Meteorological Department said.  According to the new warning issued on Friday afternoon, there is a warning of heavy rain at isolated places in 7 districts.   As part of vigilance, orange alert has been announced in Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Kozhikode and Kannur districts.  According to the warning of the Meteorological Department, caution should be taken as there is a possibility of heavy rain in isolated places.

 Yellow alert has also been announced in other districts.  Heavy rain is forecast at isolated places.  A yellow alert has been issued for heavy rain on Saturday.  Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod districts are under rain warning.

 The decisions of the meeting with the driving school owners were issued as an order.  After the meeting, these suggestions were implemented.  As per the revised order, 40 tests can be conducted in offices with one motor vehicle inspector and 80 tests in offices with two motor vehicle inspectors.  Vehicles up to 18 years old can be used for the test.  Permission to conduct road test after ground test.  Vehicles with dual clutch/brake systems may continue to be used for road safety reasons.

 Driving schools are also directed to prepare a new design for ground renovation and submit it to the Transport Commissioner within a month.  The order also said that the driving schools should ensure that the driving instructor is present when the applicants appear for the test.

 Kochi: 2 more shutters of Malankara Dam have been opened as the water level has risen due to heavy rains.  With this, the number of open shutters has increased to four.  2 shutters are raised by 50 cm each.  Earlier 2 shutters were raised by 20 cm each.

 The water level in Thodupuzha and Muvatupuzha rivers is rising.  Officials informed that more water will be released if necessary and people living on both banks of the river should be very careful.

The accused in the Thiruvananthapuram Karamana Akhil murder case have been released into police custody. Thiruvananthapuram Judicial First Class Magistrate Court granted four days custody. The accused will be brought to the scene tomorrow and evidence will be collected.

Direct participants in the case, Vineet Raj, Appu alias Akhil, Sumesh, Anish who drove the Innova car in which they were traveling, Harilal, Kiran Krishna, Arun Babu and Abhilash, who were involved in the conspiracy, were released into custody. On the 10th of this month, Akhil, a native of Karamana Maruthurkadav, was killed by a group of 8 members by hitting him on the head with a wire rod and throwing a heavy stone on his body.

Idukki: Another West Nile fever death in the state. Vijayakumar, a resident of Maniyarankudi, Idukki, died. He was 24 years old. He contracted West Nile fever in Kozhikode. He died on Friday while undergoing treatment at Idukki Medical College. He came to Kozhikode for kidney transplant. There he contracted West Nile fever. He was undergoing treatment in Kozhikode and later returned home to Idukki when his fever subsided. When developed fever again, he was admitted to the medical college in Idukki.

West Nile fever is an infectious disease caused by a virus. West Nile virus is the causative agent. They reach the human body through Culex mosquitoes. The virus is transmitted from birds to humans through mosquitoes. The disease is not directly transmitted from human to human. The main symptoms are headache, fever, muscle aches, fatigue, dizziness and memory loss.

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala is on high alert today as the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted extremely heavy rainfall across the state. Three districts – Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, and Idukki – have been placed under red alert, indicating the possibility of severe weather events.

Orange alert, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall, has been issued for Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, and Thrissur districts. The remaining districts are on yellow alert, urging caution due to the possibility of moderate rainfall.

Authorities have advised strict caution, particularly in hilly regions, as there’s a high chance of landslides and mudslides. People residing in these areas are urged to stay vigilant and follow instructions issued by local authorities.

Alerts

• Red alert for Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, and Idukki districts.
• Orange alert for Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, and Thrissur districts.
• Yellow alert for remaining districts.
• Strong winds and rough weather expected along the coast, prompting warnings against venturing into the sea.
• Possibility of heavy rainfall for the next five days, with extremely heavy rainfall predicted for the next two days.
• Isolated incidents of very heavy rainfall are also forecast till Friday.
• Popular tourist destinations like Athirappilly and Vazhachal have been closed due to safety concerns. Trekking activities have also been prohibited.
• Entry restricted for tourists visiting Vazhani, Peechi dams, and Chavakkad beach due to the orange alert.
• Night travel restrictions continue in the hilly regions of Kottayam district and the Erattupetta-Wagamon route. Special permission from the police station is mandatory for essential travel during these restricted hours.
• Search operations resume today in Pathanamthitta for two individuals missing after being swept away in strong currents.

Stay Safe:

• Closely monitor weather updates from official sources.
• Adhere to advisories issued by local authorities.
• Avoid venturing into flooded areas or overflowing water bodies.
• Exercise caution while travelling, especially on hilly roads.