Kerala faced severe weather conditions on Wednesday as heavy rainfall, accompanied by strong winds, battered several regions of the state, resulting in significant damage to property, crops, and infrastructure. Tragically, a 13-year-old boy lost his life in Alappuzha when a wall collapsed due to the relentless downpour. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for multiple districts including Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Ernakulam, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod, forecasting continued intense rainfall for the next three days.
District administrations in Ernakulam, Kottayam, Idukki, Wayanad, Pathanamthitta, and Alappuzha have declared a holiday for educational institutions on Thursday as a precautionary measure. The situation was exacerbated by the opening of dam shutters following rising water levels in rivers such as Periyar, Chalakkudy, Thodupuzha, and Muvattupuzha, prompting advisories for residents in vulnerable areas to exercise caution.
In response to the escalating weather crisis, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed teams in Idukki, focusing particularly on landslide-prone areas around Munnar. Relief efforts are underway with three relief camps operational in Idukki district to assist affected residents. Authorities have also imposed restrictions on night travel, quarrying, mining, and tourism activities in hilly regions of Idukki to mitigate further risks.
The weather dynamics driving this intense monsoon activity include a trough at mean sea level along the Maharashtra-central Kerala coasts and cyclonic circulations over west-central and northwest Bay of Bengal, influencing weather patterns across the region. The Central Water Commission has issued an orange alert for Madamon and Kallooppara stations in Pathanamthitta due to rising river levels, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
Further compounding the challenges, the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services has issued alerts for high waves and swell surges along the coastlines of Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Kannur, Kasaragod, Kollam, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Thiruvananthapuram, and Thrissur, urging fishermen to refrain from venturing into the sea. As Kerala navigates through this monsoon crisis, concerted efforts by local authorities, disaster response teams, and community awareness are crucial in minimizing damage and ensuring the safety of residents in the face of ongoing weather challenges.
