With the weather being unfavourable and the sea getting rougher, the Thiruvananthapuram District Disaster Management Authority (TDDMA) on Saturday prohibited entry to the Shangumugham beach for seven days starting July 20. The decision was taken by the authority after the beach experienced massive coastal erosion over the days.

According to a statement, District Collector K Gopalakrishnan gave instructions to the District Tourism Promotion Council to put up a fence in the entry areas to the beach where the rocks have been completely or partially destroyed. The Kerala Police have also been alerted to monitor the beach premises. 

TDDMA has also announced that the coastal area of Valiathura is also an accident-prone area at the moment due to the rough sea attacks and that the people should avoid straying into the sea in these areas. The Shangumugham beach is on the western side of Thiruvananthapuram and is a well-known tourist destination.

With the south-west monsoon gaining momentum, various districts in Kerala have been experiencing heavy rains over the past three days and as per the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), it is expected to continue in the coming days as well. The IMD has issued a red alert to six districts in the state, which are predicted to experience extremely heavy rainfall in the next two days. A red alert has been issued for Idukki and Kasaragod on Sunday and Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Kannur on Monday.

Meanwhile, an orange alert warning has been issued to Kottayam, Ernakulam, Kozhikode and Kannur on Sunday; Idukki and Kasaragod on Monday; Idukki, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, Kasaragod on Tuesday and Kannur and Kasaragod on Wednesday. Heavy rainfall up to 115.5mm in 24 hours is expected in these districts.

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