Officials removing parts of a tree branch that fell on a train along the Shoranur-Ernakulam stretch on Sunday.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The vigorous spell of rain lashing the State is likely to intensify further powered by strong westerlies. Heavy rain accompanied by strong winds lashed most parts of the State on Sunday (May 25, 2025) leaving a trail of destruction for the second consecutive day. Train service along the Shoranur-Ernakulam stretch was disrupted at Cheruthuruthy for a while after a tree branch fell on a train headed for Thiruvananthapuram from Jamnagar around 10:30 am.
Seven people were killed in rain-related incidents on Sunday. Two boys – Nidhin, 14, and Ebin, 10, – children of Biju, a native of Kodancherry, Kozhikode, were electrocuted when a snapped live electric wire fell in the river while they were fishing. A motorcyclist, identified as Pavithran of Villyappally in Kozhikode, died after a tree fell on him. In Palakkad, Mubin, 25, son of Muralidharan, went missing after he was swept away by a stream at Kayiliyad in Chalavara village near Ottappalam on Sunday, while another person was reported drowned. Pradeep of Kottikkal, near Kodungallur, drowned after his vessel capsized in river.
A Plus Two student, identified as Sreerag, was electrocuted at Vallikunnu in Malappuram after he stepped on a snapped live electric wire. A woman from Madhya Pradesh, Malathi, died after a tree fell on her in Pampadumpara in Idukki.
More than 225 houses suffered damages due to rain and gust until 4 p.m. on Sunday, while as many as 18 houses were fully destroyed across the State. Sea levels also rose sharply in many places including Alappuzha and Thrikkunnapuzha, inundating low-lying areas. A whirlwind hit parts of Thrissur, blowing off the roof of a pump house in the kolefield of Arimbur. A car that lost control overturned in heavy rain, near Ramakkalmedu, in Idukki. However, the passengers of the car escaped unhurt.
In Kozhikode, 36 people from nine families were shifted to relief camp following heavy rain. In Thiruvananthapuram, two camps had already been operational, accommodating 11 people.
Rain to intensify
Meanwhile, a fresh low-pressure area is likely to form over west-central and adjoining North Bay of Bengal around May 27. This, along with the prevailing strong westerlies at lower tropospheric levels over the Kerala and Lakshadweep region, is likely to intensify the rain further for the next seven days.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert warning of extreme weather conditions for 11 districts on Monday (May 26, 2025) and an orange alert for the remaining three districts – Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Alappuzha, warning of very heavy rainfall. Strong surface winds with speed reaching 50-60 kmph is likely to prevail over various parts of Kerala and Lakshadweep on Monday. Fishermen have been advised to refrain from venturing into the sea as squally weather with wind speed 35 kmph to 45 kmph gusting to 55 kmph is prevailing along and off Kerala coasts.
High waves in the range of 3.3-4 m are forecasted along the coast of Kerala and fishermen are advised not to ply small vessels near shore. The authorities also advised suspending recreational activities along the beaches, as coastal erosion and wave surges are likely. Meanwhile, Nilambur in Malappuram recorded the highest rainfall of 16 cm during the last 24 hours ending at 8.30 a.m. on Sunday followed by Vythiri in Wayanad with 15 cm, Karipur in Malappuram, Kannur, Mannarkkad in Palakkad, Urumi in Kozhikode and Chemberi with 13 cm each.
Published – May 25, 2025 07:24 pm IST
