Heavy rain lashes Kerala’s high ranges; orange alert in four districts

Thiruvananthapuram: Intermittent heavy rain accompanied by strong winds lashed several parts of Kerala on Monday, leading to inundation, uprooting of trees, and traffic disruptions across the state.

The high ranges of southern Thiruvananthapuram, along with parts of northern Kozhikode and Kannur districts, witnessed widespread downpours and overcast skies throughout the day.

In Thiruvananthapuram, a heavy spell lasting nearly an hour caused waterlogging along the Thiruvananthapuram–Thenkasi road, while traffic on the Palode–Elavattom stretch was temporarily disrupted due to flooding in the evening.

In Kannur, floodwaters entered the premises of several houses and commercial establishments. A wall reportedly collapsed on a house following intense rainfall.

In Thrissur district’s Mala and Ernakulam’s Elanji areas, houses sustained damage due to lightning strikes, with residents reporting cracked walls and damaged electrical equipment. In another incident, a family in Pallippuram, Thrissur, had a narrow escape after an uprooted tree fell on their house.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for Ernakulam, Idukki, Malappuram, and Kozhikode districts, forecasting very heavy rainfall. The remaining districts were placed under a yellow alert.

In view of the worsening weather, the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) urged people living in landslide-, mudslide-, and flash flood-prone areas to shift to safer locations as directed by local authorities. Those residing along riverbanks and downstream of dams were also advised to relocate in advance, anticipating possible flooding.

As per IMD standards, an orange alert indicates very heavy rain ranging from 11 cm to 20 cm, while a yellow alert denotes rainfall between 6 cm and 11 cm.