IMD Weather Today: ‘Red’ warning for heavy rains in Odisha, Kerala, Tamil Nadu as severe cyclonic storm approaches Andhra | Today’s news
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall in several districts of Odisha and Kerala, while torrential downpours continue to disrupt normal life in Tamil Nadu.
With severe waterlogging, localized flooding and emergency rescues already underway in southern states, authorities are bracing for further impacts in the coming days.
This comes as the depression over the Bay of Bengal has strengthened into a deep depression and is moving rapidly towards the east coast, threatening to unleash damaging winds and massive storms.
Read also | IMD Weather Alert Today: ‘Red’ alert for heavy rains in Keralam, Tamil Nadu
Heavy cyclonic storm hits Andhra coast; Urisha on alert
According to the latest IMD bulletin, a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal is expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam as a very severe cyclonic storm.
The system is expected to make landfall before noon on October 28, with maximum sustained winds of 115-125 km/h, gusting to 140 km/h.
Since the planned landfall area is about 300 kilometers from Gopalpur, the Odisha government has issued a red alert on October 28 for five vulnerable southern areas – Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri.
Heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected in these areas with isolated extremely heavy downpours exceeding 20 cm, accompanied by gusty surface winds of 60-70 km/h.
As a precautionary measure, the Chief Minister has ordered the closure of all schools, colleges and Anganwadi centers in these districts on October 28 and 29.
Read also | Odisha, Andhra on alert as Cyclone Arnab to make landfall on October 28
Kerala issues red alert; schools, tourist places closed
In Kerala, heavy rains have severely disrupted normal life and caused waterlogging in many low-lying areas. In response, the IMD on Sunday issued a severe red alert (indicating over 20 cm of rainfall in 24 hours) for Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad districts.
Educational institutions and tourist destinations, including all places for adventure tourism and trekking, have been closed in the red alert districts.
The IMD has also issued an orange alert for 10 other districts — including Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Idukki — and a yellow alert for Kasaragod, predicting strong winds of 40-50 kmph across the state.
Heavy rains lash Tamil Nadu
At the same time, a highly active northeast monsoon remains over Tamil Nadu. Heavy to very heavy rain is likely over parts of the state on October 26 and 27, before reducing to light to moderate showers over south Tamil Nadu on October 28.
An IMD official clarified that while the Bay of Bengal cyclone is unlikely to directly affect Tamil Nadu, the ongoing rainfall in the state is being driven by a trough associated with a cyclonic circulation over the southeast Arabian Sea and adjoining Lakshadweep.
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The state has already experienced massive downpours with Burliyar receiving 25 cm of rainfall and Devikapuram and Nedungunam recording 20 cm and 18 cm respectively.
The rains caused severe landslides in parts of Ghat Nilgiris and Kodaikanal. Heavy machinery and sandbags have been deployed for restoration work, while the Coonnoor-Mettupalayam highway remains closed for traffic.
Meanwhile, in Cuddalore district, disaster response teams safely rescued nine laborers stranded on an isolated patch of land in a swollen river.
