Thiruvananthapuram: Persistent heavy rains and strong winds have been battering the western coast of India, leading authorities to declare holidays for educational institutions across several districts in multiple states on Monday.
Dr. Naresh Kumar, a scientist from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), informed ANI, “The monsoon is shifting downward from today. We are issuing a red alert for coastal Karnataka, Kerala, and Konkan Goa for the coming days. There may be more than 20 cm of rain there. Delhi-NCR will receive light rain in the coming days. There is no alert for Delhi.”
The IMD has forecasted thunderstorms with heavy rainfall and gusty winds reaching speeds of 40 kmph in Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam districts of Kerala in the upcoming hours. Additionally, moderate rainfall is expected in the Alappuzha and Ernakulam districts.
For the past two days, heavy monsoon showers accompanied by strong winds have caused widespread havoc in Kerala, including the uprooting of trees, minor landslides, severe water-logging, and partial damage to houses. Consequently, educational institutions in Thrissur, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur, Kasaragod, Ernakulam, and Wayanad have been closed.
In response to the continuous heavy downpour, shutters at various dams have been raised. The district administration in Pathanamthitta has urged residents in the catchment area of Moozhiyar Dam to remain vigilant as its shutters are likely to be opened.
The Kerala Disaster Management Authority has warned that water-logging on major roads and reduced visibility could lead to traffic congestion. Flooding in low-lying areas and along riverbanks, as well as the uprooting of trees, may cause power-related damages.
The IMD has already issued a red alert for northern Malappuram, Kannur, and Kasaragod districts for Monday, while Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Kozhikode, and Wayanad are under an orange alert. A red alert signifies heavy to extremely heavy rain exceeding 20 cm in 24 hours, whereas an orange alert indicates very heavy rain ranging from 11 cm to 20 cm.
Karnataka is expected to experience active to vigorous rainfall until July 16, as per the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC). In light of the red alert issued by the IMD, Uttara Kannada district deputy commissioner Laxmipriya has declared a holiday for all schools and PU colleges in Karwar, Ankola, Kumta, Honnavar, Bhatkal, Sirsi, Siddapur, Yellapur, Dandeli, and Joida taluks on Monday.
On Sunday, Castle Rock in Uttara Kannada received the highest rainfall, measuring 220 mm. The weather department has issued a heavy rain and red alert for Uttara Kannada district from 1 pm on July 14 to 8.30 pm on July 16. The vigorous monsoon conditions are attributed to the existing offshore trough along the Maharashtra-north Kerala coast and a cyclonic circulation over the west-central Bay of Bengal, off coastal Andhra Pradesh, which is channeling more moisture into Karnataka, according to KSNDMC. Rains are likely over coastal Karnataka, Malnad districts, and parts of interior Karnataka until July 16.
Weather experts predict massive inflows into dams on the Kaveri and Krishna basins in Karnataka in the coming week. The Central Water Commission has issued an inflow forecast for six dams and barrages in Karnataka, where inflows are equal to or exceed the specified threshold limit. The Kabini reservoir is on red alert with storage levels exceeding 85 percent. Authorities are expected to regulate water levels in all six dams and barrages to avoid downstream flooding and upstream submergence.
In Goa, the Education Department declared a holiday for schools up to Class 12 on Monday due to heavy rains in the coastal state. The IMD issued a red alert for Goa, where heavy downpours have been occurring for the past three days. North Goa’s Pernem received 210 mm of rainfall in a day, categorized as “extremely heavy.”
Maharashtra has also received alerts from the IMD, with a red alert for Ratnagiri district indicating extremely heavy rainfall. Several districts, including Raigad, Sindhudurg, Pune, Satara, Kolhapur, Parbhani, Hingoli, Amravati, Wardha, and Yavatmal, are under orange alerts for heavy to very heavy rainfall. Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, and Dhule are under yellow alerts.
Meanwhile, parts of Delhi experienced rain on Monday morning, with the minimum temperature at 29 degrees Celsius, 1.8 degrees above the season’s average. The relative humidity at 8.30 am was 76 percent. The maximum temperature on Sunday was recorded at 37.1 degrees Celsius, two degrees above the season’s average
