First red alert of season issued as monsoon intensifies across Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: The India Meteorological Department has issued the first red alert of the season for five northern districts as torrential monsoon rains continue to lash Kerala. The highest weather warning level has been placed over Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod for Saturday, with three of these northern districts expected to remain under a red alert through Sunday.

Beyond the severe red warnings in the north, a significant portion of the state is on high alert. An orange alert has been issued for Idukki, Thrissur, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Palakkad, and Pathanamthitta, while Alappuzha, Kollam, and Thiruvananthapuram remain under a yellow alert. The surge in monsoon intensity has already disrupted daily life and caused widespread rain-related damage, including in Kozhikode where gale-force winds uprooted trees across multiple locations in the city.

As conditions deteriorate, disaster management authorities have released an extensive safety advisory for residents. Families residing in hilly zones vulnerable to landslides, mudslides, and flash floods have been ordered to relocate to safer grounds during daylight hours. Those in low-lying, flood-prone urban and rural sectors are advised to move to designated state relief camps. Furthermore, the public is strictly prohibited from entering overflowing rivers and streams for fishing, swimming, or crossing, and recreational travel to waterfalls, high-range tourist destinations, and water bodies must be suspended until weather conditions stabilise.

The Central Water Commission has urged riverbank communities to remain highly vigilant. Drivers have been cautioned against navigating roads adjacent to rising waterways or areas highly susceptible to falling trees and snapped power lines. Emergency response units have activated 24-hour control rooms, and citizens requiring immediate rescue or relief assistance can reach out via the helpline numbers 1077 and 1070.

The onset and subsequent intensification of the monsoon in Kerala marks the formal beginning of India’s vital four-month rainy season. The performance of this annual weather pattern dictates agricultural output, rural financial health, food inflation, and broader economic momentum. With approximately 51 per cent of India’s total cultivated land entirely dependent on rain, the volume and distribution of this year's monsoon remain critical to sustaining the country's economic growth.

(Inputs from IANS)