IMD orange alert for 7 Kerala districts as heavy rain threat rises
Synopsis
Kerala is on edge again as the IMD flags an orange alert across seven districts and INCOIS warns of swell surges reaching 1.4 metres along the southern coast. With schools shut, relief camps active, and disaster teams on standby, the state's monsoon stress-test is far from over — and Friday's forecast for northern Kerala looks even more severe.
Key Takeaways
IMD has issued an orange alert for 7 districts — Kasaragod, Kannur, Ernakulam, Idukki, Kottayam, Alappuzha, and Pathanamthitta — effective from Thursday, 7 August .
The remaining 7 districts are under a yellow alert ; northern Kerala faces risk of extremely heavy rainfall on Friday .
INCOIS has issued a Kallakkadal (swell surge) warning with waves of 1.1–1.4 metres along the Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, and Alappuzha coasts until 11:30 pm IST Thursday .
Educational institutions in Kottayam , Thiruvalla , Kuttanad , Chengannur , and Karthikappally taluks will remain closed on Thursday.
Schools and colleges acting as relief camps in 7 districts including Wayanad and Kozhikode have been given a holiday to support relief operations.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for seven Kerala districts — Kasaragod, Kannur, Ernakulam, Idukki, Kottayam, Alappuzha, and Pathanamthitta — as the state braces for intensified rainfall across its central and northern regions over the next 48 hours starting Thursday, 7 August. The remaining seven districts remain under a yellow alert, as the active southwest monsoon continues to drive widespread showers.
Rainfall Forecast and High-Risk Zones
The IMD has warned that northern Kerala could receive extremely heavy rainfall on Friday, with residents in hilly and landslide-prone areas urged to stay vigilant. The weather system is also expected to recharge rivers, reservoirs, and groundwater levels that had depleted during recent dry spells in several parts of the state.
Notably, this is the latest in a series of active monsoon spells that have kept Kerala's disaster management machinery on continuous standby since the season began.
School Closures and Relief Operations
As a precautionary measure, educational institutions in Kottayam taluk, Thiruvalla taluk in Pathanamthitta, and Kuttanad, Chengannur, and Karthikappally taluks in Alappuzha will remain closed on Thursday. Schools and colleges currently functioning as relief camps in Wayanad, Kozhikode, Idukki, Kottayam, Thrissur, Alappuzha, and Pathanamthitta have also been granted a holiday to facilitate ongoing relief operations.
Coastal Warning: Swell Surge Alert Issued
The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has issued a 'Kallakkadal' (swell surge) warning for parts of the Kerala coast. High waves ranging from 1.1 to 1.4 metres are expected along stretches of the Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, and Alappuzha coasts until 11:30 pm IST on Thursday. Fishermen and coastal residents have been urged to stay away from vulnerable shorelines.
Disaster Management Response
District administrations, emergency response teams, and local bodies across the state remain on alert, with continuous monitoring of river levels and vulnerable locations underway. Authorities have advised the public to avoid unnecessary travel to high-range areas, follow official advisories, and cooperate with local bodies. Officials have emphasised that timely preparedness and public cooperation will be critical to safely managing this latest monsoon spell.
Point of View
While experienced, is being stretched across multiple fronts simultaneously. The simultaneous issuance of an orange alert by the IMD and a Kallakkadal warning by INCOIS points to compounding risk: inland flooding pressure from the northeast and coastal inundation threat from the southwest. What deserves scrutiny is the recurring pattern of school closures and relief camp activations across the same districts every monsoon season — Wayanad, Idukki, Alappuzha — raising questions about long-term infrastructure resilience in high-vulnerability zones rather than season-by-season crisis management alone.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Kerala districts are under an IMD orange alert?
Seven districts — Kasaragod, Kannur, Ernakulam, Idukki, Kottayam, Alappuzha, and Pathanamthitta — are under an orange alert issued by the IMD. The remaining seven districts in Kerala are under a yellow alert.
What is a Kallakkadal warning and why has it been issued for Kerala?
A Kallakkadal warning refers to a swell surge alert issued when high ocean waves are expected to impact coastal areas without an accompanying storm. INCOIS has issued this warning for the Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, and Alappuzha coasts, where waves of 1.1 to 1.4 metres are expected until 11:30 pm IST on Thursday.
Which schools are closed in Kerala due to the heavy rain alert?
Educational institutions in Kottayam taluk, Thiruvalla taluk in Pathanamthitta, and Kuttanad, Chengannur, and Karthikappally taluks in Alappuzha will remain closed on Thursday. Schools and colleges serving as relief camps in Wayanad, Kozhikode, Idukki, Kottayam, Thrissur, Alappuzha, and Pathanamthitta have also been given a holiday.
What precautions have authorities advised for Kerala residents?
Authorities have advised residents to avoid unnecessary travel to high-range areas, follow official advisories, and cooperate with local bodies. Fishermen and coastal residents near vulnerable shorelines have been specifically urged to stay away from the coast until the swell surge warning lifts.
When is the heaviest rainfall expected in Kerala?
The IMD has forecast extremely heavy rainfall in northern Kerala on Friday, 8 August. The broader intensified rain spell is expected to continue across central and northern parts of the state over a 48-hour window from Thursday.
