Kerala Rains: Death Toll Hits 25 Amid Fresh Flood Warnings

Heavy monsoon rains have tragically claimed at least 25 lives across Kerala over the past four days, with four individuals still reported missing. In response to the growing crisis, the state government has announced an ex-gratia aid of ₹8 lakh for the kin of each deceased, aiming to provide some relief to the grieving families.

Despite a temporary reduction in rain intensity, Kerala is preparing for another severe round of downpours anticipated this weekend. This renewed threat is attributed to a low-pressure area forming over the Bay of Bengal. As a precautionary measure, 418 relief camps have been established statewide, currently providing shelter to 18,434 people who have been displaced by the floods and landslides.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an extended forecast, warning of heavy rainfall in central Travancore, specifically mentioning areas like Ernakulam, Idukki, and parts of Kottayam. Northern Kerala districts including Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod are also expected to experience significant rainfall. Orange alerts for intense heavy rain have been issued for nine districts, while yellow alerts for isolated heavy rain are in place for Malappuram, Thrissur, Palakkad, Kollam, and Thiruvananthapuram.

The recent incessant rainfall has triggered widespread flash floods and landslips, leaving a trail of destruction across the state. Officials from the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) are closely monitoring the situation, with elaborate preparations underway to mitigate the impact of the impending heavy rain spell. Encouragingly, the season's rainfall deficit has narrowed by over 11% in just three days, and the remaining deficit is expected to be significantly offset by this weekend's weather system.

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