Heavy rain in Kerala triggers school closures and flood warnings as IMD forecasts more rain

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Heavy rain has continued in Kerala, prompting the closure of schools in nine districts and issuing flood and landslide warnings as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts further rainfall. The situation has led to significant damage, with 30 homes completely destroyed and 293 partially damaged across the state. Authorities have opened 273 relief camps, sheltering 7,674 people, while rescue operations are ongoing with support from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Fire and Rescue Services and police teams. The IMD has warned that continued rainfall could trigger waterlogging, traffic disruptions, landslides in vulnerable regions and lightning incidents.

Orange and yellow alerts issued

The IMD has issued an orange alert for several districts, including Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Kannur, while other areas remain under a yellow alert. The weather agency forecasts isolated heavy rainfall, with some regions expected to receive 7 cm to 11 cm of rain within 24 hours. Schools in nine districts have been shut down due to the prevailing weather conditions, affecting educational institutions, colleges, professional institutions, anganwadis, tuition centres and training institutes. In Alappuzha, holidays have been declared for institutions functioning as relief camps, while a wider closure is in place in flood-prone Chengannur and Kuttanad taluks.

Residents in landslide-prone areas have been advised to move to safer locations if instructed by authorities. The state government has also warned that continued rainfall could lead to waterlogging and traffic disruptions. In Chhattisgarh, heavy rains triggered severe flooding, with more than 50 houses damaged and two girls killed. Flood-affected resident Sonaru Ram described the sudden rainfall as unprecedented, with 16 houses washed away and belongings lost.

Central assistance and state coordination

The Centre has sanctioned relief assistance to several states, including Rs 500 crore each for Gujarat, Maharashtra and Odisha, Rs 379.35 crore for Assam, Rs 193.95 crore for Himachal Pradesh and Rs 44.55 crore for Arunachal Pradesh. The Ministry of Home Affairs said the Centre is coordinating with state governments and providing support, including deployment of NDRF teams and logistical assistance. Assam and Uttarakhand remain on high alert due to rising water levels, while Gujarat, Odisha and Himalayan states are also on alert for heavy rainfall and flood-like conditions.

Relief efforts are ongoing with support from multiple agencies, including the NDRF and SDRF. In Assam, the flood death toll has risen to 82, with two fresh deaths reported in Sivasagar and Charaideo. Over 1.92 lakh people have been affected across five districts, with 379 villages impacted. Villagers in Sivasagar’s Nepali Khuti area used six country-made boats to rescue more than 1,000 people from five villages after floodwaters entered homes.