Heavy rain continues to lash Kerala; red alert for 11 districts on May 26

Officials remove parts of a tree branch that fell on a train along the Shoranur-Ernakulam section on Sunday. | Photo credit: Special arrangement

The heavy spell of rain lashing the state is likely to intensify further due to strong westerlies. Heavy rain accompanied by strong winds lashed most parts of the state on Sunday (May 25, 2025), leaving destruction in its wake for the second consecutive day. Train services along the Shoranur-Ernakulam section were disrupted for a while at Cheruthuruthy after a tree branch fell on a Thiruvananthapuram-bound train from Jamnagar around 10:30 am.

Rain pound Kerala

Seven people died in rain-related incidents on Sunday. Two boys — Nidhin, 14, and Ebin, 10 — children of Biju, a native of Kodancherry, Kozhikode, were electrocuted when a severed live electric wire fell into the river while they were fishing. The motorcyclist, identified as Pavithran of Villyappally in Kozhikode, died after a tree fell on him. In Palakkad, 25-year-old Mubin, son of Muralidharan, went missing after he was swept away by a stream at Kayiliyad in Chalavara village near Ottappalam on Sunday, while another person was reported drowned. Pradeep of Kottikkal, near Kodungallur, drowned after his vessel capsized in the river.

A Plus Two student, identified as Sreerag, was electrocuted at Vallikunna in Malappuram after he stepped on a broken live electric wire. A woman from Madhya Pradesh, Malathi, died after a tree fell on her at Pampadumpara in Idukki.

More than 225 houses sustained damage due to rain and gusty winds till 4:00 pm on Sunday, while as many as 18 houses were completely destroyed across the state. Sea levels also rose sharply in many places including Alappuzha and Thrikkunnapuzha, inundating low-lying areas. A gale hit parts of Thrissur and blew off the roof of a petrol station at the Arimbur coalfield. The car, which lost control, overturned in heavy rain near Ramakkalmedu in Idukki. However, the passengers escaped from the car without injury.

In Kozhikode, 36 people from nine families were shifted to a relief camp after heavy rain. Two camps were already functioning in Thiruvananthapuram, housing 11 people.

Rain intensify

Meanwhile, a fresh low pressure area is likely to form over the central west and adjoining North Bay of Bengal around May 27. This along with prevailing strong westerlies at lower tropospheric levels over Kerala and Lakshadweep region is likely to intensify the rain further in the next seven days.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for extreme weather conditions for 11 districts and an orange alert for the remaining three districts – Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Alappuzha for Monday (May 26, 2025) warning of very heavy rainfall. Strong surface wind speed of 50-60 kmph is likely to prevail over various parts of Kerala and Lakshadweep on Monday. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea as stormy weather prevails along and off the Kerala coast with wind speed of 35 kmph to 45 kmph with gusts up to 55 kmph.

High waves in the range of 3.3-4 m are forecast along the Kerala coast and fishermen are advised not to sail in small vessels near the coast. Authorities also recommended suspending recreational activities along the beaches as coastal erosion and waves are likely. Meanwhile, Nilambur in Malappuram recorded the highest rainfall of 16 cm in the last 24 hours that ended at 8.30 am on Sunday, followed by Vythiri in Wayanad with 15 cm, Karipur in Malappuram, Kannur, Mannarkkad in Palakkad, Urumi in Kozhikode and Chemberi with 13 cm each.

Published – 25 May 2025 19:24 IST