Kerala Rains: Thunderstorms And Rain Expected Until October 18; Yellow Alert In 9 Districts

Kerala was battered by torrential rain, disrupting daily life as widespread waterlogging afflicted several areas, including the state's southernmost district on Sunday. The downpour led to rainwater seeping into residential homes, severely impacting the routines of the local population. In response to the deluge, many families were relocated from inundated regions to safer zones.

According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) in Thiruvananthapuram, the state is expected to experience thunderstorms and heavy rainfall until October 18.

The weather department has issued a yellow alert for the day in nine out of the state's 14 districts (Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad). A yellow alert signifies the likelihood of heavy rainfall between 6 and 11 centimeters.

Images vividly depicted low-lying areas submerged in rainwater, blurring the lines between streets and streams, making navigation difficult. Netizens shared videos and photos of the inundation on social media platform X (formely known as Twitter).

Meanwhile, Thiruvananthapuram recorded 47.6 mm rainfall till 8.30 am. A low-pressure system is likely to develop in the Arabian Sea due to a cyclonic circulation prevailing over South Tamil Nadu. This cyclonic circulation, evolving in the Southeast Arabian Sea and Central East Arabian Sea over the next 24 hours, is expected to evolve into a low-pressure system by October 17. The system is expected to track in a west-northwest direction and gain intensity over the next 48 hours, as stated in the advisory.

According to Skymet,these rains are in view of the Circulation over Lakshadweep. A trough will be extending from Andhra Pradesh to Comorin. There is a likelihood that a Low Pressure Area may form over the region.

The entire stretch of Kerala will be seeing rainfall activities in the coming days, for at least for the next few days.

Due to the flooding, the Southern Railways announced that the departure of the Thiruvananthapuram-New Delhi Kerala Express train had been rescheduled by more than seven hours.

The announcement stated, "Train no. 12625 Thiruvananthapuram-New Delhi Kerala Express, initially scheduled to depart from Thiruvananthapuram at 12.30 hours today (15.10.2023), will now leave at 19.35 hours (7 hours and 5 minutes late) due to flooding at the Kochuveli pit line following heavy rains."

In response to the situation, the Kerala Fire and Rescue Services Official has issued an emergency contact number for citizens in need of assistance.

In other southern states, the weather department has anticipated isolated thunderstorms and lightning, with gusty winds reaching speeds of 30-40 kmph over Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Mahe, and Lakshadweep between October 14 and 18. According to the IMD, isolated heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning is likely in Kerala, Mahe, Tamil Nadu, and South Interior Karnataka during the same period.

Meanwhile, in other regions, the IMD issued an "orange" alert on Saturday, warning of heavy rain and snowfall in parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, and Himachal Pradesh over the next two to three days due to an intense western disturbance. This marks the first intense western disturbance of the season and is expected to affect northwest and central India until October 17.