IMD issues red alert for five Kerala districts as extreme heavy rainfall looms

IMD places five Kerala districts under red alert

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red alerts for extremely heavy rainfall across five districts in Kerala for Sunday and Monday, prompting state disaster management authorities to mobilize precautionary measures and order localized school closures.

According to meteorological forecasts, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad are under a red alert on Sunday, 25 October. The extreme weather warning shifts to Idukki and Palakkad on Monday, 26 October.

The IMD classifies rainfall exceeding 204.4 mm within 24 hours as extremely heavy rainfall. In addition to the highest level of alert, several other districts face orange and yellow warnings, signifying heavy to very heavy precipitation across the state.

Rain alert breakdown across Kerala districts

Disaster management response and public precautions

The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) has urged residents in high-risk areas to remain vigilant, warning that short-duration intense rainfall could trigger flash floods, overflowing streams, urban waterlogging and landslips.

Authorities have advised people residing in landslip-prone hilly terrains and low-lying flood regions to relocate to designated safer places if necessary. KSDMA directives explicitly prohibit crossing rivers or entering water bodies during heavy downpours, while non-essential travel to waterfalls and hilly areas should be deferred until official warnings are withdrawn. Night travel in hilly regions has been completely banned.

School closures and safety directives

To minimize public exposure, district administrations have enacted localized closures of educational establishments.

In Malappuram, the District Collector ordered a holiday on Sunday for anganwadis, madrasas, tuition centres, parallel colleges and coaching centres. Similarly, the Kozhikode District Collector declared a holiday covering educational institutions, including tuition centres and anganwadis.

Official directives clarify that these holiday orders do not apply to residential educational institutions or hostels. Pre-scheduled university and public examinations will proceed as announced. State response agencies remain on standby to manage emergency contingencies as weather conditions evolve.