Before the monsoon, emergency operation centers were activated in the district

As the southwest monsoon is expected to hit the state this week, the district administration has activated emergency operation centers in all the seven taluks. The 24-hour centers opened a week ago as initial forecasts predicted an early onset of the rainy season by May 24.

Besides the District Emergency Operation Center (DEOC) operating from the Civil Station in Kakkanad, Taluk Emergency Operation Centers (TEOCs) have been activated.

The taluk centers were activated ahead of time, due to the pre-monsoon summer showers that wreaked havoc in various parts of the district, especially in the eastern region. More than 200 houses were damaged in the district in heavy summer rains accompanied by gusty winds that lashed the district from mid-April to mid-May.

The DEOC, which operates 24 hours a day, usually with dedicated officials from the Fire and Rescue Service, Police and Revenue Departments, will seek the services of departments including irrigation, local governments and KSEB once the monsoon picks up.

District and taluk centers are tasked with quickly relaying information, including alerts and distress calls, to the concerned departments. “Information about waterlogging and flooding is being forwarded to the police and fire brigade for quick intervention, while cases requiring evacuation of affected residents will be forwarded to the concerned local authority,” said an official from the DEOC. Taluk centers will function similarly.

The emergency operation center contact numbers are as follows: DEOC — 9400021077/0484 2423513; TEOC Kochi — 0484 2215559; Aluva — 0484 2995956, Paravur — 0484 2972817; Kunnathunad — 0484 2522224; Muvattupuzha — 0485 2991022; Kothamangalam — 0485 2823468; and Kanayannur — 0484 2944828/0484 2360704.

The district administration claimed that preparations for the monsoon were in their final stages. According to officials, special meetings of secretaries and tahsildars of landslide-prone panchayats and taluks were held to review and evaluate preparedness measures.

Published – 31 May 2026 22:15 IST