Kerala is grappling with the onset of the southwest monsoon, which has intensified over the past 24 hours, leading to significant disruptions across the state.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red alerts for several districts, indicating extremely heavy rainfall exceeding 204.4 mm in 24 hours. As of Thursday, May 29, the IMD has declared red alerts for the following districts: Kannur, Kasaragod, Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Wayanad, and Kozhikode. In response to the severe weather conditions, all educational institutions, including schools, colleges, anganwadis, and tuition centres, will remain closed in these districts. However, previously scheduled examinations will proceed as planned. In Kannur, the district collector has announced an additional holiday for educational institutions on Friday, May 30, due to the continued adverse weather conditions.
In Idukki district, authorities have initiated controlled releases from the Ponmudi Dam to manage rising water levels. Starting at 3 PM on Thursday, three shutters of the dam will be gradually opened by 60 cm each, releasing up to 150 cubic meters of water per second into the Panniyar River. Residents living along the riverbanks downstream of the dam are advised to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions. To ensure public safety, district collectors have imposed night travel bans in several regions. In Idukki, travel has been restricted on the Munnar Gap Road and the Neryamangalam–Adimali stretch of the Kochi–Dhanushkodi National Highway from 7 PM until May 30. In Pathanamthitta, night travel to hilly areas is banned until June 1, and all tourism activities and quarry operations have been suspended. In Ernakulam, all tourist destinations under the District Tourism Promotion Council and the Tourism Department are closed until further notice.
Wayanad district has been severely affected by the heavy rains, leading to the displacement of over 674 individuals, including 271 women from 188 families. These residents have been relocated to 17 relief camps across the district. Sulthan Bathery taluk has the highest number of camps (eight), followed by Vythiri (seven) and Mananthavady (two). The IMD has forecasted continued extremely heavy rainfall in Kerala on Thursday, May 29, and Friday, May 30. The southwest monsoon has advanced further into parts of Maharashtra, the rest of Karnataka, most of Telangana, remaining areas of Andhra Pradesh, parts of Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and the west-central Bay of Bengal.
Residents are urged to stay informed through official channels and adhere to safety advisories issued by local authorities. The government is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating relief efforts to mitigate the impact of the monsoon rains. For real-time updates and safety guidelines, individuals are encouraged to follow the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority’s official website and social media platforms. In these challenging times, community cooperation and adherence to safety protocols are essential to navigate the monsoon season safely.
Also Read :IMD Predicts Temperature Rise in Coming Days
