Rain fury in Kerala: Three killed, two go missing
Kochi/Kozhikode: Three people were killed in rain-related incidents while two went missing on Sunday as Southwest Monsoon, which resumed after a brief break, remained strong in the state.
IMD has issued a heavy rainfall warning for the state for the next three days. Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod districts have been sounded red alert on Monday.
Joyride ends in tragedy
In Alappuzha, a late-night joyride for three youths ended in agony as a car carrying them veered off the road and plunged into a canal at Punnamada, killing one. The deceased is Thathampally native Bijoy Antony (31).
Two others managed to swim to safety. The accident occurred around 2am near Rajiv Boat Jetty.
The co-passengers told police that they were returning after Antony's birthday celebrations. "We reached the spot along with fire force officials and rushed Antony to the Alappuzha govt hospital, but he was declared brought dead," the police said.
In Konni, Pathanamthitta, the body of Praveen Sekhar, 41, who went missing in a river, was retrieved from Aluvappuram Ellamkavu Valiyathodu.
In Kannur, a youth drowned in Anivayal pond near Azhikode. The deceased is Anchuthengu native K T Ismail, 21. He along with his brother and two others went for swimming in the pond. Valapattanam police and fire force rushed to the spot and carried out a search, but could not rescue him. Scuba divers from Thalassery retrieved the body.
A 15-year-old boy went missing in the sea at Alappuzha beach in the evening. Eight children who came for swimming were caught in the waves.
Locals rescued seven of them.
"The search for the missing child will resume on Monday. We have sought Navy's assistance," said a police officer with Alappuzha North station.
Incessant and heavy rain wreaked havoc in various parts of the state, widely uprooting trees, triggering mudslides in high ranges and inundating low-lying areas.
Downpour in Malabar
Heavy rain lashed Malabar districts sending many rivers to spate and causing waterlogging in many low-lying areas.
A temporary check dam built on Bavali River at Kottiyoor in Kannur was washed away.
In Wayanad, Chooralmala and nearby areas witnessed heavy rain following which there was surge in water levels at Punnapuzha through which the debris from the 2024 landslide flowed. The soil which was removed and piled up as part of debris removal and river training works in Punnapuzha got washed away at many places.
In Kozhikode, a car plunged into a stream at Karuthaparambu in Mukkam.
The three passengers, however, escaped unhurt. There was a surge in waters in Pullad River at Vilangad which was hit by a landslide last year. Also, an aged person went missing at Cherupuzha near Chathamangalam in the district.
In Kasaragod, a relief camp was opened in Paramba LP School in Maloth village to which 37 persons from 10 families have been shifted. At Mayicha, people residing in 15 houses have been shifted to houses of relatives.
Heavy rain battered Thiruvananthapuram district for the second straight day. Intense rain, strong winds and sea erosion have left coastal villages on the edge.
At Kochuthope near Shanghumugham, two houses were destroyed in sea surge. An anganwadi building too was destroyed.
At Vettukad, a section of an unoccupied house collapsed due to sea surge. In Vallakkadavu, a teak tree fell onto the roof of ward councillor Ayira's house.
She and her children escaped unhurt.
Hosdurg and Kudulu received the highest rainfall (15cm) while Vadakara and Panathur got 14cm and 13cm, respectively. Aluva, Kodungallur and Ponnani received 12cm while Cial, Chalakudy and Munakkal got 11cm each.
Cyclonic circulation
A cyclonic circulation lies over the Northwest Bay of Bengal and its neighbourhood which has merged with another one lying over the west-central Bay of Bengal off the north coastal Andhra Pradesh.
Strong surface winds with speeds occasionally reaching 50-60kmph on Monday and 40-50kmph on Tuesday are likely to prevail over Kerala and Lakshadweep. Incois has issued a red-level high wave alert for Kasaragod, Kannur and Kozhikode districts. Small vessels should not be taken into the sea, nearshore recreation activities should be totally suspended as wave surges/erosion are possible.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
28 minutes ago
- Time of India
Mumbai weather: IMD sounds orange orange alert for heavy rainfall today
Mumbai witnessed heavy rainfall in the early hours of Monday, leaving several parts of the city waterlogged. South Mumbai and the western suburbs received most of the rain between 2 am and 5 am. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for the day. The Fort area recorded highest rainfall with 74 mm, followed closely by Bandra (62 mm), Malabar Hill (60 mm), and Lower Parel (58 mm). Other areas that saw significant rainfall include Haji Ali (57 mm), Matunga (56 mm), Grant Road and Santacruz (47 mm each), and Dadar (41 mm). Western suburbs, including Andheri (33 mm), Mumbai Central (30 mm), and Borivali (28 mm) also saw consistent showers. Worli (26 mm), BKC (25 mm), Versova (23 mm), and Dindoshi (22 mm) also received their share of rainfall. While most of Mumbai saw heavy downpour, neighbouring Thane remained largely dry during the same period, though it is forecasted to receive rainfall later in the day. According to IMD's seven-day forecast, heavy rain is expected to continue on Monday, particularly over South Mumbai and parts of the Western suburbs. An orange alert has been issued, warning of localised flooding and traffic snarls. Live Events For Tuesday, the forecast shows similar conditions, with generally cloudy skies and heavy rain predicted. From Wednesday onwards, intermittent rain is expected but with no formal warnings. With daily life already disrupted in several pockets of the city this morning, authorities are on alert, and disaster response teams have been placed on standby. Mumbaikars are once again urged to stay cautious, especially in low-lying areas.
Hindustan Times
31 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Mean summer temp in state rose 1.2°C in 70 yrs: Study
Mumbai: A long-term assessment on heat trends and vulnerabilities in Maharashtra shows that despite advances in the arrival of the monsoon in recent years, instances of extreme heat are on the rise. Maximum temperatures during summers as well as prolonged stretches with temperatures above 40° Celsius have risen substantially over the past seven decades, the assessment shows. This signals a shift from episodic to chronic heat exposure, with profound public health consequences for vulnerable groups including infants, elderly people, those with chronic illnesses, and millions of informal sector workers, said experts. As per the report compiled by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and public health experts using 72 years of data (1951–2022), the mean summer maximum temperature in the state has risen by over 1.2°C – from 36.3°C in 1951 to 37.5°C in 2022. The number of days with temperatures exceeding 45°C have also spiked, especially in May – the state's hottest month. While such temperatures were virtually absent between 1951 and 1970, the trend escalated dramatically in the 1980s, and peaked in 2010 and 2015, when the number of extreme heat days were 65. The spike was especially pronounced in the Vidarbha region, in districts like Wardha and Yavatmal, marking them as persistent high-heat hotspots. 'We compiled this dataset from IMD and conducted a detailed region-wise analysis to understand the steady rise in temperatures and localised impacts,' said a senior official from the Maharashtra Disaster Management Department who was involved in the assessment. 'This dataset will now form the foundation for targeted climate-health policies. Since temperature patterns evolve over decades, this data will remain valid for years.' Soaring mercury According to the assessment, the mean maximum temperature in the state for May has increased from 40.17°C in 1951 to 41.19°C in 2019. Prolonged heat spells, defined by temperatures exceeding 40°C for more than two days, have also increased sharply during this period – while there were only 223 such instances in 1951, by 2022, the number had more than doubled to 451, with districts like Buldhana, Jalgaon, Hingoli, and Washim among the worst affected. Such long exposures to heat lead to electrolyte imbalances, acute kidney injury, cardiovascular events, and even heat stroke-related delirium, said experts. 'A one-degree rise in average temperature may mean an actual micro-level temperature increase of 5-6°C,' said Ronita Bardhan, professor of sustainable built environment at the University of Cambridge. 'In densely populated cities like Mumbai, indoor temperatures may soar even higher, especially in slum tenements made of metal sheets, turning homes into death traps.' Rise in the mercury raises skin temperatures and increases vulnerability, particularly for women who spend significantly more time indoors, said Bardhan. 'Biological and social factors compound risks,' she said. 'For instance, women sweat less than men and often avoid drinking water to limit bathroom visits due to lack of access, which accelerates dehydration.' Ilan Kelman, professor of disasters and health at University College, London, echoed Bardhan on gendered disparity with regards to impact of heat. 'In India, it is often socially acceptable for men to urinate in public. But women can't,' said Kelman. 'So women working away from home tend to drink less to avoid using the toilet. That puts them at higher risk of dehydration and heatstroke.' The combination of high heat and humidity was particularly dangerous, said Kelman. 'Fans blowing hot, humid air can actually accelerate dehydration, especially when nights remain hot and people don't cool down,' he said. 'Cognitive impairment is often the first sign – people stop recognising they need to rest, hydrate, or find shade. Without intervention, it progresses to multi-organ failure and death.' Urban centres with increasing asphalt sprawl, reflective rooftops and declining tree cover comprise a separate but equally urgent crisis, said experts. 'For many poor communities, artificial cooling isn't even an option,' Kelman said. 'Informal settlements lack the infrastructure to support air conditioning. Even indoor garment workers are vulnerable in poorly ventilated buildings that heat up rapidly and offer no relief.' Climatic shift Dr Dileep Mavalankar, former director of the Indian Institute of Public Health in Gandhinagar and a key architect of India's first heat action plan for Ahmedabad, said India was no longer dealing with seasonal extremes but confronting a fundamental climatic shift. 'There's no denying the intensity of Indian summers,' he said. 'Yet today's heatwaves are not seasonal fluctuations—they are the clearest signals of a changing climate. Heatwaves are arriving earlier, lasting longer, and pushing beyond previously recorded limits.' Many heat-related deaths, especially those related to cardiovascular collapse or worsening of chronic respiratory conditions, don't show up in official records, said Dr Mavalankar. 'Heat doesn't only kill through heatstroke,' he noted. 'It first impairs cognition and by the time people seek care, it's often too late.' The under-reporting of heat-related ailments and deaths is a major barrier in both preparedness and accountability, he noted. Anticipatory intervention 'Currently, we're in a reactive mode, but there's an opportunity in this urgency,' Bardhan said. 'We must integrate thermal resilience into housing schemes like 'Housing for All'. These can become invisible infrastructure, especially for women who are disproportionately exposed to indoor heat.' Though Maharashtra has introduced a state-level heat action plan, execution remains patchy and key interventions – such as public hydration booths, early warnings, shaded workspaces, and awareness campaigns – often fail to reach remote villages and urban slums. Rural health centres also often report shortages of oral rehydration salts (ORS) and cool intravenous fluids during peak summer. 'Maharashtra must urgently shift from crisis response to anticipatory governance,' said Dr Malvankar. He cited the example of implementing the heat action plan in Ahmedabad, which showed that timely early warnings, public awareness, and access to hydration could save lives. 'Unless we scale these interventions to both rural and urban districts, we will continue to grossly underestimate the toll,' he warned.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Monsoon fury: 3 dead, 2 go missing
Kochi/Kozhikode: Three people were killed in rain-related incidents while two went missing on Sunday as Southwest Monsoon, which resumed after a brief break, remained strong in the state. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now IMD has issued a heavy rainfall warning for the state for the next three days. Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod districts have been sounded red alert on Monday. Joyride ends in tragedy In Alappuzha, a late-night joyride for three youths ended in agony as a car carrying them veered off the road and plunged into a canal at Punnamada, killing one. The deceased is Thathampally native Bijoy Antony (31). Two others managed to swim to safety. The accident occurred around 2am near Rajiv Boat Jetty. The co-passengers told police that they were returning after Antony's birthday celebrations. "We reached the spot along with fire force officials and rushed Antony to the Alappuzha govt hospital, but he was declared brought dead," the police said. In Konni, Pathanamthitta, the body of Praveen Sekhar, 41, who went missing in a river, was retrieved from Aluvappuram Ellamkavu Valiyathodu. In Kannur, a youth drowned in Anivayal pond near Azhikode. The deceased is Anchuthengu native K T Ismail, 21. He along with his brother and two others went for swimming in the pond. Valapattanam police and fire force rushed to the spot and carried out a search, but could not rescue him. Scuba divers from Thalassery retrieved the body. A 15-year-old boy went missing in the sea at Alappuzha beach in the evening. Eight children who came for swimming were caught in the waves. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Locals rescued seven of them. "The search for the missing child will resume on Monday. We have sought Navy's assistance," said a police officer with Alappuzha North station. Incessant and heavy rain wreaked havoc in various parts of the state, widely uprooting trees, triggering mudslides in high ranges and inundating low-lying areas. Downpour in Malabar Heavy rain lashed Malabar districts sending many rivers to spate and causing waterlogging in many low-lying areas. A temporary check dam built on Bavali River at Kottiyoor in Kannur was washed away. In Wayanad, Chooralmala and nearby areas witnessed heavy rain following which there was surge in water levels at Punnapuzha through which the debris from the 2024 landslide flowed. The soil which was removed and piled up as part of debris removal and river training works in Punnapuzha got washed away at many places. In Kozhikode, a car plunged into a stream at Karuthaparambu in Mukkam. The three passengers, however, escaped unhurt. There was a surge in waters in Pullad River at Vilangad which was hit by a landslide last year. Also, an aged person went missing at Cherupuzha near Chathamangalam in the district. In Kasaragod, a relief camp was opened in Paramba LP School in Maloth village to which 37 persons from 10 families have been shifted. At Mayicha, people residing in 15 houses have been shifted to houses of relatives. Heavy rain battered Thiruvananthapuram district for the second straight day. Intense rain, strong winds and sea erosion have left coastal villages on the edge. At Kochuthope near Shanghumugham, two houses were destroyed in sea surge. An anganwadi building too was destroyed. At Vettukad, a section of an unoccupied house collapsed due to sea surge. In Vallakkadavu, a teak tree fell onto the roof of ward councillor Ayira's house. She and her children escaped unhurt. Hosdurg and Kudulu received the highest rainfall (15cm) while Vadakara and Panathur got 14cm and 13cm, respectively. Aluva, Kodungallur and Ponnani received 12cm while Cial, Chalakudy and Munakkal got 11cm each. Cyclonic circulation A cyclonic circulation lies over the Northwest Bay of Bengal and its neighbourhood which has merged with another one lying over the west-central Bay of Bengal off the north coastal Andhra Pradesh. Strong surface winds with speeds occasionally reaching 50-60kmph on Monday and 40-50kmph on Tuesday are likely to prevail over Kerala and Lakshadweep. Incois has issued a red-level high wave alert for Kasaragod, Kannur and Kozhikode districts. Small vessels should not be taken into the sea, nearshore recreation activities should be totally suspended as wave surges/erosion are possible.
