Kerala's Torrential Downpour Disrupts Daily Life as Alerts Escalate

Heavy rains have engulfed Kerala, causing widespread disruption with road waterlogging and traffic jams. The IMD has escalated alerts to include more districts as weather conditions intensify due to cyclonic circulations over the Arabian Sea. Thunderstorms and heavy rains are forecasted across various parts of the state.

Kerala is grappling with continuous heavy rains since Friday morning, causing severe disruptions to daily life as roads become waterlogged, and traffic grinds to a halt. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for eight districts in the state, indicating increased rainfall intensity.

Initially focusing on Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, and Thrissur districts, the IMD expanded the orange alert to Pathanamthitta, Kollam, and Alappuzha by the afternoon, as torrential rains persisted.

The adverse weather is attributed to cyclonic circulations over the Arabian Sea near Kerala's southern coast, prompting predictions of very heavy to heavy rainfall until October 27. Visuals from TV channels showed dark, cloud-covered skies, resembling late evening scenarios.

Alongside the orange alert, a yellow alert—signifying heavy rainfall—has been declared in three other districts, as the weather department anticipates thunderstorms, heavy rains, and gusty winds in specific regions.

(With inputs from agencies.)