Kerala: Holiday for educational institutions in 8 districts amid heavy rain warning

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District Collectors in eight Kerala districts declared a holiday for educational institutions on Friday, August 7, as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast very heavy rainfall across large parts of the state. The holiday comes days after intense rain triggered floods and landslides across Kerala, displacing more than 11,000 people.

The holiday has been announced in Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod. It applies to all educational institutions, including professional colleges, tuition centres, coaching institutes, special classes, anganwadis, and religious study centres. However, pre-scheduled public and university exams, as well as interviews, will proceed without change.

The IMD has issued an orange warning for Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod, forecasting very heavy rainfall between 115.6 mm and 204.4 mm in 24 hours. A yellow warning, indicating the possibility of isolated heavy rainfall, has been issued for Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Thrissur, and Palakkad.

Meanwhile, the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has warned of the Kallakkadal (swell surge) phenomenon along the coasts of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, and Alappuzha. Waves between 1.1 and 1.5 metres could lead to coastal inundation, prompting authorities to advise fisherfolk and coastal residents to exercise extreme caution.

The INCOIS has advised the public to avoid all beach-related activities, including tourism and recreation, until the warning is withdrawn. 

Kerala is still recovering from the spell of heavy rain that battered the state at the beginning of August, causing multiple landslides across districts. More than 11,000 people were directly affected by the flooding. According to the IMD, Kerala received an average of 184.2 mm of rainfall between August 1 and 3, against the normal 55.4 mm — an excess of 232%. Nearly every district recorded rainfall at least 60% above normal.