Kerala Issues Orange Alert for Five Districts as Heavy Rains

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) placed five southern districts in Kerala under an orange alert on Wednesday. The alert covers Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, and Kottayam. Forecasters expect very heavy showers at isolated spots over the next 24 hours.

Five other districts are on yellow alert. These include Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, and Malappuram. The state is currently facing an intense wet spell marked by severe thunder and lightning.

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Under IMD standards, an orange alert means very heavy rain between 115.6 mm and 204.4 mm. A yellow alert signifies heavy rainfall between 64.5 mm and 115.5 mm.

Weather authorities also issued strict maritime restrictions according to an official weather report. The agency barred fishing vessels from entering the Kerala-Lakshadweep coastline. This coastal travel ban remains in effect from October 21 to October 25.

The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) announced plans to sound warning sirens on Wednesday evening across orange alert districts. Officials asked people living in vulnerable areas to shift to secure shelters. These zones include lands prone to landslides, mudslides, and flash floods.

Residents living near riverbanks and below major dams received direct relocation advisories. The agency urged these families to locate nearby relief camps immediately. Officials advised citizens to complete all relocations during daylight hours with help from local panchayats and revenue teams.

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The KSDMA told citizens to postpone non-essential trips during heavy downpours. People should halt visits to waterfalls, rivers, and hill stations until warnings end. Drivers must stay alert near damaged roads and water bodies, while avoiding waterlogged routes and swollen streams.

Authorities activated round-the-clock control rooms across all taluks and districts. Citizens requiring emergency aid or reporting local hazards can call the toll-free helplines 1077 and 1070.