South India weather alerts: Heavy rain and monsoon preparedness

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued warnings for heavy to very heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and gusty winds across several southern Indian states, including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh, as the Northeast monsoon intensifies.

In Tamil Nadu, authorities have mobilized significant resources to mitigate urban flooding. The Greater Chennai Corporation has deployed 15,000 personnel and 600 pump sets to manage unpredictable weather conditions. State officials, including Health Minister KG Arunraj, noted that Chief Minister MK Stalin is monitoring the situation hourly to ensure effective disaster response and mitigation.

Kerala has issued yellow alerts for multiple districts, including Kottayam, Idukki, and Ernakulam, due to intensifying rainfall linked to cyclonic circulation. In Wayanad, local administration has restricted tourism activities such as trekking and homestays. Coastal warnings have also been issued for Thiruvananthapuram and Kanyakumari due to the risk of rough seas and coastal inundation.

In Karnataka, Bengaluru and surrounding districts face continued unsettled weather, with forecasts predicting heavy rain and wind gusts of up to 40 kmph through the coming days.