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Active monsoon phase over: IMD

Kochi: After an onslaught of extremely heavy rainfall that lashed hilly regions and the coasts, the skies turned relatively calm on Monday with scattered rainfall in some places. The weather department said the strength of the monsoon westerlies over southern parts of the Arabian Sea has declined since August 9 and is likely to reduce further during the next five days.

In this scenario, rainfall activity is very likely to reduce further over Kerala .

Only a few places recorded more than 10cm of rain on Monday. Thodupuzha received 12cm while Kudulu (Kasaragod) recorded 11 cm. Kannur and Taliparamba each logged 10 cm. While Haripad and Ernakulam South each registered 8 cm, Alappuzha, Naval Airport, Piravom, Vaikom, Irikkur and Hosdurg all received 7 cm.

With the reduction in intensity of rainfall, the caution levels at many dams were lowered with just four major KSEB dams still on red alert. They include Kallarkutti, Lower Periyar and Irattayar in Idukki and Muzhiyar in Pathanamthitta district. Poringalkuthu in Thrissur and Kallar in Idukki are on yellow alert. Kuttiyadi in Kozhikode and Pampa in Pathanamthitta are down to level blue, which is the first stage of alert.

Yellow is the status of dams releasing waters as a precautionary measure and red indicates the third stage based on the mandate of the central water commission.

As for irrigation reservoirs, Neyyar, Maniyar, Bhoothathankettu, Malankara, Mangalam, Siruvani, Moolathara, Karapuzha and Pazhassi are releasing water as a precautionary measure following rise in water levels. The water levels of Manimala, Achankovil, Kaliyar and Meenachil rivers remained steady or reduced slightly. Yet concerned district administrations are on alert.

Heavy rainfall of 7-11 cm is expected in some places in the state on Tuesday, but by and large the active phase of the southwest monsoon is over. The monsoon will continue in its normal phase this week.

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