Kerala rain school holiday announced as Red Alert, heavy rainfall and landslide threat force closure of educational institutions on July 8
Educational institutions in Wayanad and Kozhikode districts will remain closed on Wednesday, July 8, after the district administrations declared a holiday due to persistent heavy rainfall and IMD Red Alert warnings. Rescue operations continue in Wayanad following a deadly landslide that claimed five lives.
Kalpetta: Authorities in Kerala have declared a holiday for educational institutions in Wayanad and Kozhikode districts on Wednesday, July 8, following relentless monsoon rainfall, Red Alert warnings issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), and the heightened risk of landslides and flooding across northern Kerala.
Also Read: Wayanad Landslide Kills Five as Rescue Teams Race to Find Survivors
The decision comes as heavy rain continues to batter the region, with officials urging residents to remain vigilant and avoid unnecessary travel. The announcement also follows a devastating landslide near Meenakshi Bridge at Kalladi in Wayanad, where five people lost their lives and rescue operations are still underway.
"Educational institutions in Wayanad and Kozhikode will remain closed on July 8 as authorities prioritise public safety amid Red Alert warnings."
Wayanad School Holiday Announced Amid Red Alert
Wayanad District Collector announced that all educational institutions, including schools, higher secondary institutions, professional colleges, colleges, tuition centres and other academic institutions, will remain closed on Wednesday, July 8, due to continuing heavy rainfall.
The district remains under a Red Alert, indicating the likelihood of extremely heavy rainfall capable of triggering landslides, flash floods and severe disruption.
Authorities have appealed to residents to stay indoors whenever possible and avoid travelling through vulnerable hilly regions unless absolutely necessary.
Kozhikode Schools Also Closed on July 8
A similar holiday has been declared in Kozhikode district, where heavy rainfall and strong wind warnings prompted district authorities to suspend academic activities.
The Collector announced that all educational institutions, including schools, professional colleges, tuition centres and madrasas, will remain closed on Wednesday. The holiday also applies to Anganwadi centres across the district.
However, residential educational institutions, university examinations and Public Service Commission (PSC) examinations will continue according to their existing schedules.
Deadly Wayanad Landslide Raises Safety Concerns
The school closure follows Tuesday's deadly landslide near Meenakshi Bridge at Kalladi, close to the Anakkompoyil–Meppadi tunnel project in Wayanad.
The disaster has claimed five lives, while rescue teams continue searching for eight missing persons feared trapped beneath the debris.
Officials confirmed that seven injured individuals are undergoing treatment in hospital, with one reported to be in critical condition. Two others have already been discharged.
Authorities said the landslide occurred after heavy rainfall caused a large quantity of excavated soil near the tunnel project to collapse, damaging nearby infrastructure and threatening the stability of the bridge.
Residents living close to the affected area are being evacuated as a precautionary measure.
"NDRF teams continue rescue efforts as authorities search for missing persons amid unstable weather conditions."
NDRF Rescue Operation Continues in Kerala
Search and rescue operations remain in full swing under challenging weather conditions.
Two teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are leading rescue efforts, assisted by personnel from Fire and Rescue Services, police and district administration.
Authorities have deployed advanced motion-detection cameras and cadaver dogs to locate people trapped beneath the debris, while heavy machinery continues clearing the landslide zone.
Heavy Rain Continues Across Northern Kerala
The India Meteorological Department has warned that moderate rainfall accompanied by strong winds reaching up to 50 kmph may continue over Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod during the next few hours.
Other districts across Kerala are also expected to receive light rainfall with wind speeds of up to 40 kmph.
The weather department has further forecast strong winds of 40–50 kmph at isolated places across Kerala through the day.
Kerala Weather Alert for July 7 and July 8
According to the latest IMD bulletin:
Red Alert
- July 7 (Tuesday): Wayanad, Kozhikode
Orange Alert
- July 7 (Tuesday): Malappuram, Kannur, Kasaragod
Yellow Alert
- July 7 (Tuesday): Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad
- July 8 (Wednesday): Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod
- July 9 (Thursday): Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod
Authorities have advised residents in all alert districts to closely monitor official weather updates and comply with local administration advisories.
Weather System Driving Kerala Monsoon
The IMD stated that an offshore trough extending from the south Gujarat coast to the north Kerala coast, along with a deep depression over south Jharkhand and adjoining northern Odisha, is influencing the current weather pattern.
The system is expected to move northwestwards across Jharkhand, northern Chhattisgarh and adjoining eastern Madhya Pradesh over the next 24 hours, continuing to support widespread rainfall across Kerala.
Public Advisory During Heavy Rainfall
District administrations have urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel, especially through landslide-prone hilly areas, swollen rivers and low-lying regions susceptible to flooding.
People have also been advised to remain alert for official evacuation orders and weather updates while taking necessary precautions until rainfall intensity decreases.
Related Coverage: Read more on NewsFlash Daily™ for the latest Kerala monsoon updates, IMD weather alerts, Wayanad landslide rescue operations and school holiday announcements across affected districts.
