Red alert in Kerala; schools closed in three districts

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala is bracing for extremely heavy rainfall as a red alert has been issued for Idukki, Palakkad, and Malappuram tomorrow. The northeast monsoon has already battered the high ranges, causing flooding in low-lying areas across the state.

Authorities have declared a holiday on Wednesday for educational institutions in the three districts. In Malappuram, the closure covers madrassas, anganwadis, and tuition centres, while in Palakkad, residential schools, colleges, and Navodaya institutions are exempted.

All water-based activities in Idukki, including boating, kayaking, and rafting, have been suspended. Trekking and other adventure activities in landslide-prone hilly regions are also prohibited until the alert is lifted.

District collector Dinesan Cheruvat has additionally banned all quarrying and soil excavation operations, except those related to disaster management.

For reference, a red alert signals rainfall exceeding 20 cm in 24 hours.