Heavy rain lashes Kerala, two die; orange alert in five districts

Heavy rain accompanied by strong winds lashed several districts across Kerala on Monday, causing waterlogging in low-lying areas, officials said.

In Alappuzha district, a fisherman died after his boat capsized near the Arthunkal coast following strong winds. The deceased was identified as Paul Devasia, a native of Arthunkal. He went out for fishing early in the morning, and though other fishermen rescued him from the water, he later died, police said.

In another incident, a man from West Bengal died after being struck by lightning at Mukanoor near Angamaly. Police identified the deceased as 45-year-old Kokhan Misthri, who worked at a workshop and was struck by lightning at his rented house around 8.15 am.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for Kozhikode, Kasaragod, Kannur, Kottayam, and Pathanamthitta districts, forecasting heavy rainfall between 115.6 mm and 204 mm over the next 24 hours.

A yellow alert has also been issued for Wayanad, Malappuram, Palakkad, Thrissur, Ernakulam, Idukki, and Alappuzha districts, where rainfall between 64.5 mm and 115.5 mm is likely. The IMD further warned of strong winds across all districts.

Heavy rainfall was reported in the northern districts since early morning, leading to waterlogging in parts of Kozhikode city, where water entered several shops near the KSRTC bus station. Intense rainfall was also recorded in the high-range regions of Malappuram and Kannur, while strong winds battered coastal areas.

In central Kerala, including Ernakulam and Alappuzha, rain intensified during the morning hours. A portion of the Aluva-Munnar road near Perumbavoor was damaged, leading to traffic restrictions in the area.

The IMD has predicted intense rain on Tuesday as well and cautioned fishermen against venturing into the sea due to rough weather conditions.