Heavy rain continued to batter Kerala, inundating low-lying areas, disrupting normal life and prompting fresh evacuations and the opening of additional relief camps, even as the IMD warned of more rain and strong winds.
Heavy rain continued to lash several parts of Kerala on Wednesday, leading to widespread waterlogging and inundated roads, while authorities opened more relief camps and shifted people from low-lying areas. Floodwaters had not receded from many affected places, and normal life remained disrupted in several districts.
The impact was severe in the southern districts of Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha and Kottayam, where incessant rain and overcast skies continued through the day. Educational institutions in 10 districts remained closed on Wednesday following the heavy rainfall.
In several inundated areas of Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha and Kottayam, people, including the elderly, women and children, were seen wading through knee-deep water. As many houses in low-lying areas remained waterlogged, more residents were moved to relief camps.
Local authorities said additional camps had been opened as the downpour persisted. Several northern districts, including high range areas of Kozhikode and Kannur, also received widespread rain.
The India Meteorological Department forecast heavy rainfall accompanied by surface wind speeds of up to 40 kmph at isolated places in Alappuzha and Kottayam during the morning hours. It also said moderate rainfall accompanied by winds reaching up to 40 kmph was likely at isolated places in Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Idukki and Ernakulam during the same period.
According to the IMD, Panathur in Kasaragod recorded the highest rainfall in the state between 3 am on August 4 and midnight on August 5 with 84 mm, while Cheruvanchery in Kannur received 61 mm during the same period.
The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services warned of rough sea conditions and high waves ranging from 1.1 to 1.4 metres along the coasts of Thiruvananthapuram from Kappil to Pozhiyoor, Kollam from Alappad to Edava, and Alappuzha from Chellanam to Azhikkal Jetty from 5.30 am on Wednesday till 11.30 pm on Thursday due to the ‘Kallakkadal’ phenomenon. It also forecast waves of 1.2 to 1.6 metres along the Kanyakumari coast till 2.30 pm on Thursday.
In view of the alert, the Kerala Disaster Management Authority advised fishermen and coastal residents to remain vigilant, avoid beaches and all tourism-related activities there until the warning is withdrawn, and be cautious about possible coastal erosion.
As the rain continues, it asked people living in landslide, mudslide and flash flood-prone hilly regions to shift to safer locations during the daytime, and residents of flood-prone low-lying areas to move to relief camps after assessing the local situation.
It also advised people not to enter or cross rivers and other waterbodies for bathing, fishing or any other purpose, to avoid non-essential travel during intense rain, and not to visit waterfalls, reservoirs and hilly tourist destinations until the weather warning is withdrawn.
