Kerala is grappling with the early and intense onset of the southwest monsoon, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue red alerts for multiple districts.
The state is experiencing heavy rainfall, leading to disruptions in daily life and the closure of educational institutions in several areas. The IMD has issued red alerts for eight districts, including Ernakulam, Kozhikode, Wayanad, and five others, indicating the severity of the weather situation. These alerts suggest a high likelihood of very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, which could lead to flooding, landslides, and further damage in these regions.
In response to the adverse weather conditions, authorities have declared holidays for educational institutions in nine districts, including Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Palakkad, Ernakulam, Kannur, Idukki, Wayanad, Thrissur, and Kasaragod. This measure aims to ensure the safety of students and staff amid the ongoing heavy rains. The IMD has also forecasted that heavy rainfall is very likely to occur at isolated places in Kerala over the next three to four days. This prediction underscores the need for continued vigilance and preparedness in the affected regions.
In addition to Kerala, the IMD has warned of widespread thunderstorms with gusty winds over several parts of northwest India in the next four to five days as the annual southwest monsoon advances over most parts of the country. This is due to an upper air cyclonic circulation currently lying over west Rajasthan and another over the northern parts of central Uttar Pradesh. The IMD has predicted that heavy rainfall is very likely to occur at isolated places in Kerala over the next three to four days. The IMD has predicted scattered to fairly widespread light-to-moderate rainfall, accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds, over Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi. Isolated to scattered rainfall is expected over Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan till June 2. Isolated heavy rainfall is also likely over Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad on May 30 and 31.
The IMD has also issued an orange alert for Delhi, indicating the likelihood of thunderstorms and gusty winds in the region. This alert serves as a warning for residents to remain cautious and take necessary precautions during the adverse weather conditions. The early and intense monsoon has also led to health concerns in Mumbai, with reports of a sharp rise in respiratory illnesses and mosquito-borne infections across the city. Major hospitals report a 20-30% increase in seasonal ailments, weeks ahead of the usual June-July surge. This situation highlights the need for increased public health measures and awareness campaigns to mitigate the impact of the monsoon on public health.
The current weather conditions underscore the importance of sustainable urban planning and infrastructure development to enhance resilience against extreme weather events. As climate change continues to influence weather patterns, cities must prioritize eco-friendly and equitable solutions to safeguard communities and ensure long-term sustainability.
Also Read: IMD Predicts Early Monsoon Entry For Maharashtra
