Kochi: The southwest monsoon arrived off Kerala’s coast on May 24, two days earlier than the IMD predicted. Yet, even if farmers are relieved, the weather service has issued flood warnings for Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. This is due to heavy rainfall expected over five days. A lot of rain is expected along the coast, and many areas have already seen water filling the streets.
According to IMD Director-General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, La Niña is most likely the main reason driving the above-normal monsoon rainfall this year. Yet, the vast amounts of rainfall may stress the city infrastructure in places like Chennai and Bengaluru, where draining water can be problematic. Authorities have moved National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams to dangerous areas and warned fishermen to stay away from the Arabian Sea because of the adverse conditions.
Officials advise people to track weather alerts and avoid wetland areas. “We are getting ready for everything bad that could happen while hoping for the best,” Kerala’s Disaster Management Authority chief said. Because climate change is making the weather more severe, authorities stress that better city planning should be used to prevent flooding.