Red Alert Along Kerala Coast Over Kallakkadal, Rough Sea Conditions

The National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has issued a red alert along the entire Kerala coast, warning of high waves and possible Kallakkadal conditions, officials said on Saturday.

According to the warning issued late Friday night, waves measuring 1.0 to 1.5 metres are likely along the Kerala coast from 2.30 am on September 26 to 2.30 am on September 28. Kallakkadal refers to the sudden rise of seawater accompanied by high and rough waves along coastal areas.

The warning said low-lying coastal regions could face inundation and sea erosion during the alert period. Special caution has been advised along vulnerable stretches in all coastal districts of Kerala, including areas from Kappil to Pozhiyoor in Thiruvananthapuram, Alappad to Edava in Kollam, and Chellanam to Azhikkal Jetty in Alappuzha.

Other areas under caution include coastal stretches in Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod.

The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) said similar warnings had been issued for coastal areas of Kanyakumari, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli districts in Tamil Nadu, as well as the Lakshadweep coast.

Fishermen and coastal residents have been advised to exercise extreme caution because of the possibility of rough seas. Residents in vulnerable areas have been asked to move to safer locations as directed by authorities. The authority further urged people to avoid all beach-related activities, including tourism and recreational visits, until the INCOIS warning is withdrawn.