NEW DELHI: The northern part of India is engulfed in intense heatwaves, while Kerala struggles with heavy rainfall along with gusty
winds
.
Kerala experienced heavy rains and strong winds on Tuesday, causing significant
disruptions
to daily life in various parts of the state.
In Kochi, the city faced severe waterlogging due to the heavy downpour. The
IMD
reported that "the Kalamassery
weather
station recorded 15 cm of rainfall from 8:30 a.m.
to 11:30 a.m., while the Mattancherry weather station recorded 5 cm during the same period."
Many roads and narrow lanes in and around Kochi were submerged, making it difficult for residents to venture out.
Traffic on highways, especially in the Kakkanad-Infopark and Aluva-Edappally areas, was severely affected by the waterlogging.
Thiruvananthapuram
, the capital district, also experienced heavy rains since Monday night, leading to uprooted trees and overflowing streams in several villages. In Neyyattinkara, a house suffered severe damage when an uprooted tree fell on it during the heavy rains and winds. The high-range areas of Nedumangadu, Neyyattinkara, Kattakkada, and Amboori witnessed widespread rainfall.
According to local reports, a portion of a hill behind the famous Bali Mandapam at Papanasam in Varkala caved in due to the heavy rains. The eco-tourism centre in Ponmudi, a hill station, was closed due to the adverse weather conditions.
As heavy rains persist in the rural areas of Thiruvananthapuram, district authorities have raised the shutters of Aruvikkara dam up to 90 cm.
The shutters are likely to be raised further up to 150 cm due to the intense downpour, and residents in nearby areas have been advised to stay alert. Coastal areas experienced high tides and rough seas, posing risks to fishing vessels.
The IMD's latest update forecasts moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds reaching up to 40 kmph in Ernakulam and Kozhikode districts on Tuesday. Moderate rainfall is also anticipated in
Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Thrissur, and Malappuram districts, while isolated light rainfall is predicted in Palakkad and Kannur districts.
EXTREME HEATWAVE CONDITION IN NORTH INDIA
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned several northern Indian states, including Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi, and western Uttar Pradesh, of persistent severe heatwave conditions in the coming days by issuing a red alert. The affected regions are likely to experience maximum daytime temperatures exceeding 50°C, providing minimal respite for residents enduring the extreme summer heat.
In an interview, Naresh Kumar, a senior IMD scientist, mentioned, "Temperatures are currently above normal across north west India and we had issued a red alert for the region over the past 2-3 days. With regard to a state-wise forecast, we have issued a red alert in Rajasthan for the next couple of days. The maximum temperature is likely to inch further up from 47°C and settle at 50°C."
Furthermore, the IMD has cautioned that temperatures are projected to increase by 2 to 3 degrees in the forthcoming days. In addition to the red alert issued for Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, the IMD has also issued an orange alert for the northern regions of Madhya Pradesh, indicating the severity of the heatwave conditions in these areas.
English (US) ·