Heavy rains lash Kerala: 25 dead, 4 missing, 10 injured; ‘red alert’ in 8 districts
The government said 52 houses were destroyed and 565 homes were partially damaged between August 1 and August 4.
Since August 1, Kerala has experienced heavy rains that have resulted in 25 deaths, four missing persons, and ten injuries. The state government reported that 52 houses were completely destroyed and 565 were partially damaged between August 1 and 4. Over 18,000 individuals were relocated to more than 400 relief camps across the state, with Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, and Alappuzha districts bearing the brunt with 7,852, 5,288, and 2,651 people displaced respectively.
The state received nearly triple its normal rainfall during this period, with 205.8 mm of rain compared to the usual 73.2 mm, an increase of 181 percent. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for eight districts - Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod - due to the extremely heavy rainfall, which is defined as over 20 cm in 24 hours.
The IMD also issued an orange alert in four districts and a yellow alert in two, with an orange alert indicating very heavy rainfall between 11 cm and 20 cm. Rainfall rates of 60 mm or more in 24 hours are considered heavy by the IMD. Water levels in several rivers, including Muvattupuzha, Thodupuzha, Kaliyar, and others, were above warning levels, indicating the need for vigilance from residents living along riverbanks.
The state government has promised financial aid for those who have lost their homes and livelihoods, and has also announced measures to restore lost documents and provide textbooks to affected students.
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