The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast widespread rain and thundershowers across Kerala for the next two days, prompting the issuance of an orange alert for four districts and a yellow alert for five others on Friday.
Amid the heavy downpour, the Thiruvananthapuram district collector declared a holiday for all educational establishments, including professional colleges, for Friday.
The heavy rainfall has caused the water level to rise at the Aruvikkara dam, necessitating the raising of shutters one to five by 15 centimetres each at 8 am. The district collector has since advised residents living in the dam’s vicinity to remain cautious.
According to the IMD, a new low-pressure area is anticipated to form over the Bay of Bengal, intensifying the current cyclonic activity which began triggering widespread rain in Kerala on Wednesday night. Heavy showers are expected to continue in the southern districts on Friday, with northern parts of the state also likely to see heavier rainfall as the weather system approaches the coast.
Along the coasts of Kerala, Karnataka, and Lakshadweep, squally weather with wind speeds of 40–50 kmph, gusting up to 60 kmph, is expected to prevail until Saturday. As a result, fishermen have been strongly advised not to venture into the sea.
The IMD has warned of several potential effects of the persistent heavy rain— waterlogging on major roads, poor visibility, traffic disruptions, flooding in low-lying areas, uprooting of trees, power outages, and damage to residential properties.
There is a continued risk of landslides and coastal hazards. Residents have been advised by the authorities to avoid non-essential travel, remain in safe locations, and co-operate with all traffic and disaster management measures.
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