With the southwest monsoon expected to make landfall in the State this week, the district administration has activated emergency operation centres in all seven taluks. The round-the-clock centres were opened a week ago, since initial forecasts predicted an early onset of the rainy season by May 24.

The Taluk Emergency Operation Centres (TEOCs) have been activated in addition to the District Emergency Operation Centre (DEOC) functioning from the Civil Station at Kakkanad.

The taluk centres were activated in advance, in the wake of pre-monsoon summer showers wreaking havoc in different parts of the district, especially in the eastern region. Over 200 houses were damaged in the district in heavy summer rains, accompanied by gusty winds, which lashed the district between mid-April and mid-May.

The DEOC, which functions round-the-clock usually with dedicated officials from the Fire and Rescue Services, police and revenue department, will seek the service of departments, including irrigation, Local Self-Governments and KSEB, once the monsoon gains momentum.

The district and taluk centres are tasked with passing information, including alerts and distress calls, to the departments concerned promptly. “We pass information on waterlogging and flooding to the police and fire force for prompt action, while cases requiring the shifting of affected residents will be forwarded to the local body concerned,” an official with the DEOC said. The taluk centres will be functioning similarly.

The contact numbers of the emergency operation centres are as follows: DEOC -- 9400021077/0484 2423513; TEOC Kochi -- 0484 2215559; Aluva -- 0484 2995956, Paravur -- 0484 2972817; Kunnathunad -- 0484 2522224; Muvattupuzha -- 0485 2991022; Kothamangalam -- 0485 2823468; and Kanayannur -- 0484 2944828/0484 2360704.

The district administration has claimed that the monsoon preparedness activities were in the final stage. Special meetings of secretaries and tahsildars from panchayats and taluks vulnerable to landslides have been held to review and assess preparedness measures, according to officials.