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The Hindu
6 days ago
- Climate
- The Hindu
Heavy rains batter Kerala overnight, cause widespread havoc and power outages
Heavy rains accompanied by strong winds battered Kerala overnight and into early Friday (May 30, 2025), inundating residential areas, damaging homes and forcing at least 1,200 citizens to seek refuge in government-run relief camps. The heavy weather uprooted trees and downed power lines. The Fire and Rescue Services department and the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) scrambled to clear fallen trees and restore power to an estimated 60 lakh households across the State. Nevertheless, large swathes of the State, including much of Thiruvananthapuram district, remained without power. Power Minister K. Krishnankutty told reporters that public resistance to pre-monsoon pruning off overhanging branches and precariously leaning trees jeopardised the safety of overhead powerlines and transformers. He said the Chief Secretary had instructed the District Collectors to invoke the Disaster Management Act 2005 provisions to overcome such resistance. He said the heavy rains and falling tree branches damaged 2,500 high-tension and 10,000 low-tension power lines across the State and that scores of transformers malfunctioned. The KSEB has sustained a loss of ₹121 crore by a conservative preliminary estimate. He said KSEB has deployed more engineers and line workers to restore power distribution. He said using underground cables to transmit electricity was the long-term solution to ensure uninterrupted power during inclement weather. However, he said the KSEB's goal remained elusive, given the high costs involved and the public utility's inability to raise power charges. Mr Krishnankutty noted the water level in 16 major and 15 small hydroelectric power dams remained within the safety threshold. Red alert Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has stated that the severe weather was set to continue with the low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal intensifying incrementally. It has issued a red alert for Idukki, Kannur and Kasargod districts. The government has declared a holiday for educational institutions, including private tuition centres. in Kottayam, Idukki, Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Kannur and Kasargod. High waves The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information (INCOIS) has forecast high waves reaching up to 3.7 m in height along Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam and Thrissur districts. It has issued a red alert in the coastal localities and cautioned fishers from putting their boats out to sea. The INCOIS has issued an orange alert, warning of tidal surges and high waves along the coasts of Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kasargod, and Kannur. The respective district administrations have suspended beach activities. Swollen rivers The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) has flagged a rise in water levels in Manimala, Achankovil and Meenachil rivers in Pathanamthitta and Kottayam districts, respectively. It has warned people living on the banks of Korapuzha (Kozhikode) and Kabani (Wayanad) to exercise extreme caution. Delayed trains The heavy rains have delayed several trains, including the Jan Shatabdi Express. Several more were running late, chiefly due to waterlogging of tracks and trees falling on the railway lines. The government has banned nighttime travel in the Idukki district. In several residential localities across Kerala, stormwater pooled under parked cars and motorcycles, damaging the vehicles. So far, the government has evacuated 1,200 people to relief camps. At least 159 houses were partially damaged, according to KSDMA estimates. Reports of rain-related deaths were also trickling in from different parts of the State. A 65-year-old man, K J James, drowned in a waterlogged locality at Punnapra in the Alappuzha district.
The Hindu
27-05-2025
- Climate
- The Hindu
Low pressure may trigger another round of intense spell in Kerala
For the fourth consecutive day since the onset of the southwest monsoon, heavy rain lashed parts of the State, disrupting daily life on Tuesday. The strong wind that accompanied the rain has left a trail of destruction across the State, although the intensity of rain was relatively low on Tuesday. Meanwhile, a fresh low pressure formed over the Northwest Bay of Bengal off the Odisha coast. The system is likely to move slowly northwards and become more marked during the next 48 hours. This, along with the prevailing strong westerlies at lower tropospheric levels over Kerala and Lakshadweep region, is likely to trigger some intense spells of rains for the next five days. IMD alerts The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Kozhikode and Wayanad districts for Wednesday, warning of extreme rainfall, and an orange alert for the remaining districts forecasting very heavy rains, except Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Alappuzha, where a yellow alert has been issued with warnings of isolated heavy rains. Meanwhile, the heavy rain that had been pummelling the State for the past few days abated slightly, bringing respite to people facing the fury of the monsoon, especially in north and central Kerala. However, rain-related woes and rough sea remained unabated. Train traffic was disrupted for the third consecutive day in various parts of the State after uprooted trees and roofing sheets of houses fell onto the railway tracks in the rain accompanied by heavy wind on Monday night and early Tuesday morning. Rail traffic was disrupted for more than six hours on the Nallalam-Areekad railway track in Kozhikode. Train traffic was also disrupted for about four hours on the Ernakulam section after branches of a banyan tree fell onto the railway track around 8 p.m. on Monday night, near Ambattukavu Metro Station in Ernakulam, and damaged the overhead electric lines that supply electricity to trains. Several trains were rescheduled. KSEB's losses According to available data, the distribution sector of the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has sustained a loss of ₹56.77 crore after around 1,596 high-tension posts and 10,573 low-tension posts were damaged in the rain and wind. The extensive damage was mainly caused by fallen trees. Electricity Minister K. Krishnankutty urged the State government to issue necessary instructions to the District Collectors to remove the fallen trees or cut down trees posing danger to public life under the Disaster Management Act. Around 14 relief camps have been opened in the State in the wake of heavy rain, accommodating around 240 people from 71 families. Meanwhile, Thalassery and Ayyankunnu in Kannur recorded the highest rainfall of 17 cm each during the last 24 hours ending at 8.30 a.m. on Tuesday, followed by Peerumedu in Idukki and Vythiri in Wayanad with 16 cm each.
Time of India
24-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
How KIIFB is helping the fisheries & electric sectors flourish in Kerala
How KIIFB is helping the fisheries & electric sectors flourish in Kerala Minister Saji Cherian highlighted the significant development initiatives underway in the state's fisheries and cultural sectors. KIIFB has earmarked Rs 150 crore for renovating Chitranjali Studio. The Sree Narayana Guru Cultural Complex in Kollam, constructed at a cost of Rs 49.68 crore, has been inaugurated, alongside the V.T. Bhattathiripad Cultural Complex in Palakkad, which was built at a cost of Rs 68 crore. Additionally, theatres are being established in various districts. Saji Cherian, Minister for Fisheries, Culture and Youth Affairs The Fisheries Department has undertaken construction projects worth Rs 426 crore through KIIFB. This includes the initiation of 51 fish markets valued at Rs 142 crore. Other KIIFB-backed ventures include a fishing port costing Rs 139 crore, coastal protection projects, and the Punargeham project, which aims to build 400 houses in Valiyathura. Two fishing port projects worth Rs 139.38 crore were also launched during this period, along with six coastal protection projects valued at Rs 106.12 crore, which were approved for implementation through the Coastal Development Corporation. Funding allocations include Rs 112.22 crore for the Parappanangadi fishing port and Rs 97.43 crore for the Chetti fishing port project, both of which are currently under construction. The minister also emphasised the extensive cultural projects in Aranmula and other initiatives involving various academies. He further clarified that additional activities related to the fishing sector are in the pipeline. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Experience three trade fairs with just one ticket Undo automatica 2025 Undo Laser World of Photonics Undo World of Quantum Undo Visit automatica: June 24-27, Munich Undo K. Krishnankutty, Minister for Electricity Minister K. Krishnankutty stated that Kerala is working towards achieving electricity self-sufficiency, with several projects currently underway. Addressing voltage shortages was prioritised, leading to the planning of 14 substations at a cost of Rs 718.79 crore. Of these, 12 have been completed, while construction on the remaining two is ongoing. KSEB has received Rs 1,862.51 crore in assistance through KIIFB for various initiatives, including the completion of stalled substations. Additionally, Rs 1,157.72 crore in KIIFB funds has been allocated for the construction of nine extra high-tension lines. The completion of the Trans Grid project is expected to reduce transmission losses by 520 million units, resulting in savings of Rs 250 crore. Development projects in the Chittoor constituency have also benefited from KIIFB assistance. The minister mentioned that a draft proposal has been submitted to secure KIIFB funding for electricity generation and distribution projects, including the expansion of hydroelectric facilities and the establishment of additional substations. Learn more about KIIFB here . Disclaimer - The above content is non-editorial, and TIL hereby disclaims any and all warranties, expressed or implied, relating to it, and does not guarantee, vouch for or necessarily endorse any of the content
