The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for several districts in Kerala due to heavy rainfall. Consequently, authorities have directed the closure of educational institutions across the state on Wednesday.
The district administrations in eight districts—Kannur, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Palakkad, Thrissur, Idukki, Alappuzha, and Kottayam—have ordered the closure of schools and colleges in response to the red alert.
The heavy rainfall in these districts has resulted in waterlogged streets, collapsed power lines, and swollen rivers. Kozhikode and Kannur are under a red alert, while an orange alert has been issued for Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod districts. The IMD has also advised fishermen to avoid fishing along the Kerala-Karnataka-Lakshadweep coasts.
Maharashtra and Odisha also on alert
In Maharashtra, the IMD has issued a red alert for Raigad and an orange alert for Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Pune, Satara, and Kolhapur, warning of continued heavy rain on July 17.
Meanwhile, in Odisha, the IMD has issued a rainfall alert, predicting heavy rains to persist until July 20. Heavy rainfall (7 to 11 cm) is expected in Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, and Koraput on Wednesday.
West Bengal braces for heavy rainfall
The Meteorological Department has also issued a heavy rainfall alert for West Bengal, including Kolkata, Howrah, and North and South 24 Parganas. The state is expected to experience heavy to extremely heavy rainfall on Saturday, July 20, which could potentially disrupt the Trinamool Congress’ rally scheduled for July 21.