A cyclonic circulation along the coasts of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha is moving towards the state, raising the risk of flash floods and landslides.
Published Jun 16, 2025 | 10:05 AM ⚊ Updated Jun 16, 2025 | 10:05 AM
Kerala rains. (Wikimedia)
Synopsis: Rain-related incidents claimed four lives in Kerala, while two people remain missing. The IMD forecast continued heavy rainfall across Kerala, prompting authorities to issue a red alert for five northern districts.
As the northwest monsoon intensified, rain-related incidents claimed four lives in Kerala on Sunday, 15 June, while two people remain missing.
In Erumeli, plantation worker Muniya Swamy (56) died after a tree fell on his scooter. Bijoy Antony (32) drowned when his car plunged into a canal in Alappuzha. Praveen Shekhar (47), missing after his bike fell into a stream in Konni, was found dead. KT Ismail (21) drowned while bathing in a pond in Kannur.
Heavy rains are set to intensify in Kerala over the next three days, accompanied by strong winds reaching speeds of 50–60 kmph.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast continued heavy rainfall across Kerala, prompting authorities to issue a red alert for five northern districts: Kasaragod, Kannur, Wayanad, Malappuram, and Kozhikode.
A red alert signifies the likelihood of extremely heavy rainfall exceeding 20 cm within 24 hours.
In anticipation of the worsening weather, district collectors in 11 districts — Thrissur, Palakkad, Kannur, Wayanad, Malappuram, Kottayam, Kozhikode, Idukki, Ernakulam, Pathanamthitta, and Kasaragod — along with Kuttanad taluk in Alappuzha, have declared a holiday for all educational institutions on Monday.
This includes schools, colleges, anganwadis, professional institutions, and madrasas. However, examinations scheduled earlier will proceed as planned.
Meanwhile, an orange alert has been sounded for Palakkad, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, and Pathanamthitta, indicating the possibility of very heavy rainfall ranging from 11 to 20 cm.
Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, and Alappuzha are under a yellow alert, suggesting moderate rainfall between 7 and 12 cm.
A cyclonic circulation along the coasts of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha is moving towards the state, raising the risk of flash floods and landslides. The IMD has also warned of strong surface winds reaching speeds up to 60 kmph expected to lash parts of Kerala over the next two days.
Coastal regions may experience high waves ranging between 3.1 to 3.4 metres, especially along the Kerala and Mahi coasts. In light of these conditions, fishermen have been advised to avoid fishing until at least 18 June.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil with inputs from Sreelakshmi Soman.)
