Kerala is bracing for another spell of heavy rain, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing orange alerts for seven districts on Sunday and warning of isolated very heavy rainfall over the coming days, NewKerala reported from Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday, October 22.

Source: NewKerala

According to the IMD schedule reported by both outlets, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Thrissur and Ernakulam are under an orange alert on Thursday, while Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod are under orange alert on Saturday. On Sunday, the orange alert covers seven districts — Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad. The remaining districts are under yellow alerts, and thunderstorms are likely to accompany the rain.

Source: Urban Acres (citing IMD via Times of India)

The IMD has forecast isolated very heavy rainfall ranging from 115.6 mm to 204.4 mm in 24 hours — yaani roughly 12 to 20 centimetres of rain in a single day — in the districts under orange alert. Gusty winds of 30 to 40 kmph are possible with thunderstorms until Friday, rising to 40 to 50 kmph in isolated areas on Saturday. The State Disaster Management Authority has advised people in hilly and coastal areas to remain vigilant, with the wet spell expected to continue through Sunday.

The rain has already disrupted travel this week. Kollam recorded 11 cm of rainfall, while Peppara in Thiruvananthapuram, Chavara in Kollam and Pampadumpara in Idukki each received 9 cm, Nativeplanet reported.

Source: Nativeplanet

Near Parassala in Thiruvananthapuram district, a landslide in the early hours of Thursday stopped Train No. 22619, the Bilaspur–Tirunelveli Express, at around 2.19 a.m. in the Neyyattinkara–Parassala section and derailed its locomotive. All passengers and railway staff were reported safe. Railway authorities restored the track, and train services resumed after safety inspections. Read the Parassala derailment report