THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Heavy rains lashed various parts of Kerala with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing an orange alert in five districts of the state for the day.

The IMD sounded the orange alert in Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Malappuram and Wayanad districts of the state for the day.

An orange alert means very heavy rain of 11 cm to 20 cm.

Rains in the state during the last few days raised water level in various rivers leading to flooding of various low-lying areas and displacing hundreds from their homes.

It also led to opening of shutters in some dams, like Banasura Sagar in Wayanad district and Moozhiyar in Pathanamthitta district, in the state in the last few days.

The shutters of Peechi dam in Thrissur district are expected to be opened on Saturday afternoon, an official statement said.

Shutters of various dams, including Kanjirapuzha, Malampuzha and Meenkara, in Palakkad were opened on Saturday following rise in their water levels due to rains in their catchment areas, the district administration said.