Thiruvananthapuram: After devastating floods claimed around 500 lives in Kerala in August, the state braces for yet another spell of downpour as the Indian Meteorological Department predicted that heavy to very heavy rain is likely to occur in the next three or four days in Kerala. The weather department said a low pressure is likely to form over southeast Arabian sea on October 5 and it is likely to concentrate into a depression and move northwestwards during subsequent 48 hours.

It is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm thereafter, it added.

As the low-pressure system could intensify into a cyclone, the state government has decided to take precautionary measures on a war footing and issued directions to the district collectors on the same.

In the wake of the forecast, an emergency meeting of the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority was held at Thiruvananthapuram to take steps to meet any eventuality.

A red alert has been sounded in three districts of Idukki, Thrissur and Palakkad in Kerala.

People have been asked to avoid night travel in hilly areas and tourists visiting Munnar in Idukki to get a glimpse of 'Neelakurinji', a flower which blooms in the western ghats once in 12 years, should refrain from visiting the place from October 5 until further instructions, he said.

Since there is a possibility of floods, people living on the banks of rivers and streams have been asked to move to relief camps.

Taking to Twitter, Chief Miniter Pinarayi Vijayan said: "Met Centre has predicted that heavy (7-11 cm in 24 hours) to very heavy (12-20 cm in 24 hours) rainfall is likely to occur at 1 or 2 places in Kerala on 3rd, 4th, 5th & 6th of October. Extremely heavy rainfall (21 cm & above in 24 hrs) is likely to occur at 1 or 2 places on 7th. (sic)."

"The low pressure will cause strong winds and rough sea. Hence, the fishermen who had gone to sea were advised to reach the safest coastline before October 5," he said.

Urging fishermen not to venture into seas after October 4, the chief minister said the information will be communicated to people in coastal areas using loudspeakers and other facilities.

(With inputs from PTI)