IMD declares red rain alerts for five Kerala districts across Oct. 25-26

The India Meteorological Department has placed Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad districts under a red alert for extremely heavy rain on Sunday, October 25, and Idukki and Palakkad under the same alert on Monday, October 26. Earlier on Saturday, October 24, orange and yellow alerts covered several other districts as dark clouds gathered over Kochi in Ernakulam. The department warned that the red‑alert areas could see rainfall far beyond normal levels.

Alerts

Red alerts apply to the three districts on the 25th and to the two districts on the 26th, while orange and yellow alerts remain in force for additional districts on the 24th. The alerts are part of the IMD’s latest weather bulletin for Kerala.

Safety Advice

The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) said intense rain in a short span may trigger flash floods, overflowing streams, water‑logging in urban low‑lying zones and landslips on hills. KSDMA urged residents in landslip‑prone hills and flood‑prone low areas to move to safer places if needed. It also told people not to cross rivers, avoid non‑essential travel, stay away from waterfalls and hilly zones, and completely skip night travel to hills until the warnings are lifted.

Context

Red alerts signal the highest danger level for rainfall, meaning authorities expect rapid water rise that can endanger lives and property. The advisory aims to reduce casualties by prompting early evacuation and limiting exposure to hazardous conditions.