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Death toll in rain-related incidents over the past four days in the State has risen to 25 while four people remain missing.
Although the intensity of the rain has subsided for the time being, the State is bracing for another round of intense spells by this weekend, aided by the low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal. The India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) extended forecast also indicates heavy rainfall in areas in central Travancore, including Ernakulam, Idukki and parts of Kottayam, as well as in four districts of northern Kerala – Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod. The rest of the State is likely to receive above-normal rainfall, except Thiruvananthapuram and parts of Kollam.
Relief camps
A total of 418 relief camps are operating across the State, accommodating 18,434 people as of 5 p.m. on Tuesday. The recent heavy downpour had triggered flash floods and landslips in the State, leaving a trail of destruction. According to officials of the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA), the situation is being closely monitored, and elaborate preparations have been made in anticipation of the spell of heavy rain by this weekend.
An orange alert warning of intense heavy rain has been issued for nine districts in Kerala on Wednesday, except for Malappuram, Thrissur, Palakkad, Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram, where a yellow alert warning of isolated heavy rain has been issued by the IMD.
Meanwhile, the period also saw the rainfall deficit for the season narrowing by over 11% in just three days. The remaining rain deficit in Kerala is likely to be significantly offset by this weekend with the formation of the low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal.
According to the IMD, the rain deficit was about 34% as the monsoon crossed the halfway mark in Kerala. As of July 31, the State had received only 853.8 mm of rainfall against the normal 1,301.7 mm for the period. However, in just four days, the downpour, aided by the depression over central India, helped Kerala record a cumulative rainfall of 1,059.6 mm against the normal 1,374.9 mm for the period from June 1 to August 4, bringing the shortfall down to 23%.
The upcoming rainfall indicates that the spatial and temporal distribution of rainfall is likely to improve significantly in the first half of August. However, a robust recovery will be difficult, as the second half of August remains vulnerable to a prolonged monsoon break, with the monsoon trough shifting north of its normal position. In Kerala, enhanced rainfall alert is likely to continue over the remaining days, although the intensity of the rain has subsided considerably for the time being.
Published – August 04, 2026 11:12 pm IST
