The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for the districts of Kasaragod, Kannur, Wayanad, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kottayam, Idukki, and Pathanamthitta on Monday, May 26. These districts are expected to receive over 20 centimeters of rainfall within 24 hours.
An orange alert has been issued for Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha, and Kollam districts. Warnings have been issued to fisherfolk in coastal regions regarding anticipated high waves at sea, expected to range from 3.3 to 4 meters.
Although rainfall subsided in Wayanad on Monday morning, a minor landslide was reportedly observed at Elstone Estate, a rehabilitation site for landslide survivors from Chooralmala and other villages. Residents near the Punnapuzha river have voiced concerns about potential disasters following the heavy rainfall. Two relief camps have been established in Sulthan Bathery, and a National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team is stationed in the district. All tourist attractions in the red zone are to remain closed on Monday, May 26.
Over the past 24 hours, Mannarkkad in Palakkad district, Karipur Airport in Malappuram, Urumi in Kozhikode, and several areas in Kannur district recorded 13 centimeters of rain. Malappuram’s Nilambur and Wayanad’s Vythiri received 16 cm and 15 cm of rainfall, respectively.
Following bans in Kannur and Kasaragod districts, quarrying has been prohibited with immediate effect in Palakkad district. Heavy vehicles are also restricted from traveling on the Attappady Churam road until Tuesday. Ten shutters of the Thrithala Velliyamkallu regulator have been opened, with warnings of further openings if rain continues. An estimated 44 houses have been damaged in the district so far this monsoon, and 16 families have been moved to the Vilangad relief camp in Kozhikode. An alert has been issued for hilly areas, as fallen trees have caused power disruptions in many locations.
In Ernakulam, a young man died on Sunday, May 25, after being swept away while swimming across a river in Vaduthala. Approximately 250 rubber trees were uprooted by strong winds in the Nedumbassery Mekkad area, also damaging numerous houses. The district administration has advised residents along the Periyar riverbanks to remain vigilant, as the shutters of the Bhoothathankettu Dam have been raised. Given the red alert in the district, tourism in hilly areas and near water bodies is also discouraged.
Alappuzha district has seen 29 houses destroyed by heavy rains over two days. Sea erosion is particularly severe along the banks of Punnapra, Thrikkunnapuzha, and Valanjavazhi, where the sea wall in Punnapra has collapsed. Waterlogging has also affected areas near national highway construction sites.
The intensity of rain in Thiruvananthapuram slightly decreased after Sunday afternoon. However, accompanying winds caused significant damage, destroying houses and disrupting traffic as trees fell onto homes and roads. The Ponmudi Tourism Centre has also been closed.
Red and orange alerts have been issued along the Kerala coast due to turbulence in the Arabian Sea. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has warned of potential high waves. Reports suggest the possibility of sudden waterlogging and flash floods in all twelve districts except Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram. Traffic disruptions due to fallen trees have been reported across several parts of the state.