Kalpetta, July 31: The Wayanad district administration has declared a holiday for all educational institutions on Saturday, August 1, following the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) forecast of heavy to very heavy rainfall and the issuance of an Orange Alert for the district.
District Collector announced that the holiday will apply to all government, aided and private educational institutions in the district, including anganwadis, madrassas and other religious educational centres, tuition centres, special coaching classes, and professional colleges. The decision was taken as a precautionary measure in view of the likelihood of intense rainfall and the need to ensure the safety of students, teachers and staff.
However, the order does not apply to residential schools and residential colleges, which will continue to function as usual. Authorities have advised the managements of such institutions to remain vigilant and take all necessary safety precautions in view of the prevailing weather conditions.
The latest weather forecast indicates that rainfall activity is expected to intensify across Kerala over the next 24 hours under the influence of favourable monsoon conditions. The IMD has warned of isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall in several parts of the state, raising concerns over the possibility of waterlogging, flash floods, landslides and disruptions to normal life, particularly in hilly regions.
Apart from Wayanad, Orange Alerts have also been issued for Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod districts for Saturday. The alert signifies the likelihood of very heavy rainfall at isolated locations and calls for heightened preparedness by local authorities and the public.
The district administration has urged residents to remain cautious, avoid unnecessary travel to landslide-prone areas, and strictly follow advisories issued by the IMD and disaster management authorities. People living in vulnerable locations have been asked to stay alert and cooperate with officials if precautionary measures become necessary as heavy rain continues across the state.
