Kerala schools shut in 9 districts as IMD issues Yellow Alert, heavy rain continues
Synopsis
With heavy rain battering Kerala and low-lying areas already waterlogged, nine district administrations have shut schools for Monday and the IMD has placed all 14 districts on Yellow Alert. Flood-prone Chengannur and Kuttanad face the broadest closures — including anganwadis and tuition centres — as emergency teams remain on standby across the state.
Key Takeaways
Heavy rainfall lashed Kerala on Sunday, 2 August , waterlogging several low-lying areas.
Schools and colleges shut on Monday, 3 August in nine districts : Kasaragod, Kannur, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Malappuram, Thrissur, Idukki, Kottayam, and Pathanamthitta.
The IMD has placed all 14 districts of Kerala under a Yellow Alert , forecasting 7–11 cm of rainfall at isolated locations in 24 hours .
In Alappuzha , institutions serving as relief camps declared a student holiday; Chengannur and Kuttanad taluks face a full closure including anganwadis and tuition centres.
Emergency and disaster response teams are on standby; residents advised to avoid waterlogged roads and follow district administration orders.
Heavy and widespread rainfall continued to batter Kerala on Sunday, 2 August, leaving several low-lying areas waterlogged and prompting district administrations across nine districts to declare a holiday for all educational institutions on Monday, 3 August, as a precautionary measure. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has placed all 14 districts of the state under a Yellow Alert, warning of isolated heavy rainfall through the day.
Districts Under School Closure Order
The district administrations of Kasaragod, Kannur, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Malappuram, Thrissur, Idukki, Kottayam, and Pathanamthitta have ordered all schools, colleges, and other educational institutions to remain shut on Monday. Authorities have advised students, parents, and institutions to monitor official announcements, as local restrictions may be revised depending on ground conditions.
Special Provisions for Flood-Prone Taluks
In Alappuzha district, institutions currently functioning as relief camps will observe a holiday for students. A broader closure has been ordered in the particularly flood-vulnerable Chengannur and Kuttanad taluks, where schools, colleges, professional colleges, anganwadis, and tuition centres will all remain closed on Monday. The two taluks have a well-documented history of severe inundation during sustained monsoon spells, making them among the highest-risk zones in the state during this season.
IMD Yellow Alert and Rainfall Forecast
The IMD Yellow Alert — indicating the possibility of isolated heavy rainfall — covers all 14 districts of Kerala for Monday. According to the forecast, rainfall ranging between 7 cm and 11 cm could be recorded at isolated locations within a 24-hour period. Authorities are closely monitoring river levels and conditions in low-lying and hilly regions, as further rainfall could trigger localised flooding and landslips.
Advisories and Emergency Response
Officials have urged residents — particularly those in flood-prone and landslide-vulnerable areas — to exercise caution and avoid unnecessary travel through waterlogged stretches. Residents have been directed to follow instructions issued by district administrations and disaster management authorities. Emergency and disaster response teams remain on standby as the state continues to deal with the impact of the persistent monsoon spell. This comes amid a broader pattern of intensifying monsoon activity along the Kerala coast in recent years, with the state frequently bearing the brunt of extreme rainfall events during July and August.
Point of View
The signal risks being tuned out by residents in genuinely high-risk zones.
NationPress
2 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Kerala districts have announced school holidays on Monday, 3 August?
Nine districts — Kasaragod, Kannur, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Malappuram, Thrissur, Idukki, Kottayam, and Pathanamthitta — have ordered all educational institutions to remain closed on Monday, 3 August. In Alappuzha, institutions functioning as relief camps have also declared a student holiday, with a full closure in Chengannur and Kuttanad taluks.
What does the IMD Yellow Alert for Kerala mean?
A Yellow Alert issued by the India Meteorological Department indicates the possibility of isolated heavy rainfall, defined as between 7 cm and 11 cm within a 24-hour period. It serves as a watch advisory, urging residents and authorities to stay alert without necessarily triggering mass evacuations.
Why are Chengannur and Kuttanad under a broader closure order?
Chengannur and Kuttanad are among Kerala's most flood-prone taluks, with a documented history of severe inundation during sustained monsoon spells, including the major floods of 2018 and 2019. Their broader closure — covering anganwadis and tuition centres in addition to schools and colleges — reflects the elevated risk in these areas during heavy rainfall.
What precautions have authorities advised Kerala residents to take?
Officials have urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel through waterlogged or flooded stretches, remain cautious in landslide-vulnerable hilly regions, and strictly follow instructions from district administrations and disaster management authorities. Emergency response teams remain on standby across the state.
How long will the school closures and Yellow Alert remain in effect?
The school closures and IMD Yellow Alert currently apply to Monday, 3 August. Authorities have noted that local restrictions may be revised depending on rainfall intensity and ground conditions, and residents are advised to monitor official district administration announcements for updates.
