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Heavy rains have caused severe disruptions in Kerala, particularly in the northern Malabar districts. The continuous downpour has led to flooding, uprooted trees, property damage, and minor landslides in Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for these areas on Thursday.
In Palakkad, a school bus overturned into a canal due to the heavy rains. Fortunately, all the children were rescued without injuries. In Kozhikode, visuals showed school children traveling in a jeep partially submerged in waterlogged roads.
IMD Predictions and Precautions
The IMD has extended its warnings by issuing an orange alert for Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod. A yellow alert has been issued for five other districts. The IMD also forecast moderate rainfall and gusty winds of up to 50 km/h in several districts including Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod.
In Kannur, authorities relocated 80 people to camps and moved 71 families to the homes of relatives. The district reported extensive property damage with 13 houses completely destroyed and 242 partially damaged. Walls collapsed in some areas damaging nearby vehicles.
Impact on Daily Life
Wayanad saw heavy rains causing partial damage to over 29 houses and displacing over 1,000 people to 22 relief camps. In a rescue operation on the Kozhikode-Bengaluru NH 766, police and rescue teams saved 400 passengers stranded in floodwaters. This late-night mission took more than three hours and concluded at 3 AM.
The Indian National Center for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has warned of waves reaching heights of 2.5 to 3.4 meters along the Kerala coast. Fishermen and coastal residents have been advised to exercise extreme caution and avoid visiting beaches.
In Thrissur and Ernakulam districts, there were similar reports of property damage. Tragically, a wild elephant in Ernakulam was swept away while attempting to cross a river and died.
The district administrations in Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod declared a holiday for educational institutions on Friday as a precautionary measure.
Recent heavy rains have led to landslides, property damage, road waterlogging, and flooding of farmlands across Kerala. The IMD's alerts indicate varying levels of rainfall intensity: red for extremely heavy rain exceeding 20 cm in 24 hours; orange for very heavy rain between 6 cm and 20 cm; yellow for heavy rain between 6 cm and 11 cm.
The relentless rains have significantly disrupted daily life across several parts of Kerala. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely while providing necessary assistance to affected residents.
