THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: (Jul 26) Heavy rains since Friday night caused widespread damage in various parts of Kerala and raised water levels in rivers and dams, prompting the IMD to issue an orange alert in seven districts.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday issued an ‘orange alert’ for three hours in the morning in Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram and Kozhikode districts.

An ‘orange alert’ indicates ‘very heavy rainfall’ between 11 cm and 20 cm in a day.