Six deaths reported due to rains in Kerala: CM Pinarayi Vijayan

"As many as 5 houses were completely damaged and 55 houses partially. Six deaths had been reported in the state," the Chief Minister told a press conference.

Rain is gaining strength in Kerala and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy intensity rains in the next four days starting from Monday onwards.

"The State Government has switched to action mode putting all the preventive mechanisms in place."

The heavy intensity rain is predicted from Monday evening to Tuesday in South Kerala and central Kerala which would thereafter expand to the Northern side, said the weather department.

A red alert has been declared in seven districts for Monday and Tuesday, these include Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Alappuzha, Idukki and Ernakulam.

"We are expecting more than 200 mm rainfall in the next 24 hours," the report said.

The state had already started preventive measures against the monsoon havoc in March. The mock drill was conducted with the participation of all districts on March 14 and 15.

The chief secretary had convened a meeting of all the government departments on May 14.

The precautionary measures were reviewed in an official level meeting held on May 16. Following this, district disaster management meetings had been held in each district and a pre-monsoon preparation meeting was convened as well.

The Orange book was renewed on May 25 and was asked to implement it strictly. Rs 1 crore has been allotted to each district for monsoon preparation.

The state emergency operation centre of the state disaster management authority has been set up to function as the state control room.

The control room comprises of members from NDRF, state-level rescue forces and other departments. Besides, the control room will be opened in all districts and in the taluk level.

The measures have been started to shift people from low-lying areas and those staying in landslide-prone regions.

As many as four teams of NDRF have been put in place in Idukki, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Thrissur. Four more NDRF teams will soon join at Ernakulam, Kottayam, Kollam and Malappuram.

"The water from the 17 dams under the irrigation department is being discharged."

"At present, there is no need to drain away water from the major dams under the KSEB. The water from the minor dams--Kallarkutty, Ponmudi, Lower Periyar, Moozhiyar and Peringalkooth had already been discharged."

"The water level condition in our major dams has been reviewed by the dam management committee and there is no need to alarm as of now."

The police force has also been geared up to face any eventuality. The district police chief will maintain hotline communication with the district collector and district disaster management authority.

JCB, boats and other life-saving equipment will be set ready at police stations. ADGP MR Ajith Kumar has been appointed as the nodal officer in charge of deploying cops.

ADGP Vijay S Sakhare is the nodal officer to take care of disaster management activities.

"Already seven camps have been opened in the state-Kollam-1, Pathanamthitta-1, Idukki-1, Kottayam-2, Thrissur-1 and Wayanad-1. As many as 90 people have been shifted to these camps."

A control room functioning 24x7 has started at the office of the revenue minister in the secretariat with a contact mobile number, 8078548538.

All local bodies have been alerted to commence control rooms within 24 hours of time. The district collector can declare holidays for the educational institutions considering the local situation.

"I am expressing my deep condolences to the kin of the father and two daughters who died near Thiruvalla after their car fell off in the rivulet," the CM added.