Heavy Monsoon Rains Disrupt Life in Kerala; IMD Issues Red Alert in Eight Districts

Thiruvananthapuram: Heavy monsoon rains continued to batter Kerala on Friday, causing widespread disruption and damage across the state. In response, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for eight districts — Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Kannur, and Kasaragod — while placing the remaining six districts under an orange alert. The IMD has predicted above-normal rainfall across Kerala until June 5, with persistent showers likely to continue into the second week of June.
The relentless rain has already caused serious damage across the state. More than 1,800 people have been shifted to 66 relief camps, and the state is prepared to open 4,000 camps to accommodate up to six lakh people if the situation worsens. Hundreds of homes have been either partially or completely destroyed. In Pathanamthitta alone, nearly 200 houses have suffered partial damage. The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) reported widespread damage to high-tension and low-tension poles and transformers. In the hilly districts of Idukki and Wayanad, people from landslide-prone areas have been moved to safety.
In Ernakulam, tragedy struck when an 85-year-old MGNREGA worker died after an uprooted tree fell on her. Water levels in the Muvattupuzha River rose above the flood warning mark, prompting the authorities to open three shutters of the Malankara Dam by 20 cm. Coastal areas such as Edathuruthy and Kaipamangalam in Thrissur are facing severe waterlogging, and a house collapsed in Thayyur due to the rains. In Kasaragod’s Manjeshwar region, floodwaters affected areas like Uppala Gate, Kunjathur, Bandiyoor, Mattampady, and Pavoor, forcing the relocation of nearly 300 families.
Several fatal accidents have also been reported. In Kasaragod's Patla Boodu, a youth named Sadiq was swept away after falling into a swollen stream. In Vypin Munambam, Ramakrishna Vishwas, a youth from West Bengal, drowned after falling from a boat. A landslide in Kannur’s Ramanthali Palekkad sent debris into nearby homes, destroying one kitchen. In Kottayam’s Kollad Parakkadavu, a fishing boat capsized, killing two men — V.J. Joby (36) and Arun Sam (37) — while a third man survived.
High Wave Warning Along the Coast

Alongside the heavy rain, the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has issued a red alert for high waves and potential sea erosion along Kerala’s coast. Wave heights are expected to range from 3 to 3.9 meters until 5:30 AM on Saturday. INCOIS has specifically warned against venturing out to sea and urged extreme caution for coastal communities. Red alerts are in place from Kappil to Pozhiyoor in Thiruvananthapuram, Alappad to Idava in Kollam, Chellanam to Azhikkal Jetty in Alappuzha, Munambam to Maruvakkad in Ernakulam, and Aatupuram to Kodungallur in Thrissur. Orange alerts cover coastal areas in Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur, and Kasaragod.
Sea-related tourism and fishing activities have been temporarily banned. Fishing vessels must be securely moored with enough space to avoid collisions, and all beach visits are discouraged. INCOIS has also highlighted the risk of sudden sea swell events, or Kallakkadal, during this period.
In neighbouring Tamil Nadu, a red alert has been issued along the Kanyakumari coast from Neerodi to Arokiyapuram, with wave heights expected to reach 3.5 to 3.8 meters until early Saturday morning.
To manage the crisis, the Kerala government has sanctioned 1 crore rupees each to all District Collectors from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for monsoon preparedness. Additional funds of 2 crore rupees each have been allocated to Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode for flood mitigation works, along with smaller grants to panchayats, municipalities, and corporations to equip them for emergencies. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has reiterated the need for residents in flood- and landslide-prone areas to shift to safer locations without hesitation. With more intense rain predicted in the coming days, authorities have stressed that cautious public cooperation is essential to prevent major disasters.