Kerala Rains Disrupt Train Services; Orange Alert Issued for Seven Districts

Speedy Summary:

• Heavy Rainfall in Kerala:

– Kerala experiencing heavy rain adn gusty winds fueled by weather systems in the Bay of Bengal and an offshore trough along the west coast.
– Munnar (Idukki), Ambalavayal (Wayanad), and Ayyankunnu (Kannur) recorded highest rainfall at 9 cm in the last 24 hours. Other areas such as Peerumedu, Udumbannoor, Cheruthoni, and Vellathooval reported rainfall of up to 8 cm.

• Strong Winds Reported:

– Winds exceeded speeds of 20 knots, with manual stations recording as high as 67 kmph in Ernakulam.

• Disruption to Train Traffic:

– uprooted trees blocked tracks near mararikulam (Alappuzha), disrupting train traffic between thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam.

• IMD Alerts Issued:

– Orange alert for seven districts warning of very heavy rainfall: Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram.
– Yellow alert issued for other regions predicting isolated heavy showers.

• Cyclone Wipha Connection:

– The rain system is influenced by remnants of Cyclone Wipha over the Bay of Bengal that intensified into a well-marked low-pressure area on Saturday.
– Offshore troughs are causing moisture-laden air accumulation from Arabian Sea; vortices near Western Ghats trigger localized rains.

Indian Opinion Analysis:

The ongoing extreme weather conditions highlight Kerala’s vulnerability to disruptions caused by persistent monsoons. The influence of Cyclone Wipha underscores India’s increasing susceptibility to tropical cyclones originating from warming oceans-a pattern consistent with changing climate dynamics globally. Immediate implications include difficulties for transport networks such as railways due to uprooted trees while communities face risks linked to damaged houses and blocked roads especially in hilly terrains.While IMD’s proactive issuance of alerts enables precautionary measures across districts under orange warnings, sustained preparedness-like improved infrastructure resilience-is critical going forward given recurring monsoon threats faced annually across coastal states like Kerala. The temporary nature of this particular weather system offers some relief but emphasizes long-term adjustments needed for better management during similar events.

Read More: The hindu