Heavy Rains Lash Kerala, 4 Killed as IMD Issues Red Alert

Kerala was hit by heavy rains on Wednesday, leaving at least four dead. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for five districts - Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, and Idukki - for extremely heavy rainfall.

Deadly downpours flooded parts of the state, including low-lying areas of Kochi and Thrissur cities, submerging houses and major roads. The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) confirmed four deaths due to the rains.

On Wednesday, the southwest monsoon made its way into several areas, including the South Arabian Sea, parts of the Maldives, Comorin, and the southern Bay of Bengal, as well as sections of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Andaman Sea.

A cyclonic circulation system lingered over southern Kerala, while a low-pressure area developed southwest near the west-central Bay of Bengal. This system is expected to track northeastward and intensify into a depression over the central Bay of Bengal by Friday, with further movement anticipated toward the northeast and northwest regions of the Bay of Bengal by Saturday.

The IMD issued an orange alert for districts like Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Ernakulam due to heavy rainfall. The alert was later upgraded to a red alert on Wednesday evening as extremely heavy showers hit the areas, warning of rainfall exceeding 20 cm within 24 hours.

Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Malappuram, Kozhikode, and Wayanad are on orange alert (very heavy rains, 11-20 cm), while Kannur and Kasaragod are on yellow alert (heavy rains, 6-11 cm).

KSDMA advised fishermen to avoid the sea due to high waves up to 3.3 meters and sea incursions expected along Kerala's coast from Vizhinjam to Kasaragod until Thursday night.

The state health department opened a control room to coordinate epidemic prevention and address public queries related to heavy rains. The IMD forecast thunderstorms with gusty winds and lightning across Kerala till May 26.