Monsoon Disruptions: Schools Closed in Kerala and Mizoram as IMD Issues Red Alerts Across Multiple States

As India witnesses the early onset of the southwest monsoon, several states are grappling with heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and flood-like conditions. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has sounded red alerts in multiple districts across the northeastern and southern regions, prompting local administrations in Kerala and Mizoram to shut schools temporarily to ensure the safety of students and staff.

IMD Issues Red Alerts in Multiple States

The IMD has issued red alerts — the highest weather warning indicating extremely heavy rainfall — for districts in Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland, and Kerala. These alerts suggest that these regions will likely face severe weather conditions including heavy downpours, thunderstorms, and lightning over the next few days. Orange alerts, indicating relatively less severe but still significant weather, have been issued in other regions within these states.

Schools Closed in Kerala

In Kerala, where the monsoon has arrived ahead of schedule, the IMD has placed eight districts under red alert: Kasaragod, Kannur, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Ernakulam, Idukki, Kottayam, and Pathanamthitta. The remaining parts of the state are under orange alert. In response to the intensifying rainfall and associated risks, district administrations across Kerala have declared holidays for all educational institutions in several districts on May 30.

The affected districts include:

• Kasaragod
• Kannur
• Ernakulam
• Kottayam
• Thrissur
• Idukki
• Wayanad
• Pathanamthitta
• Palakkad
• Alappuzha
   

Authorities have taken this step as a precautionary measure, ensuring that students and staff are not exposed to dangerous travel conditions, waterlogging, or infrastructure-related hazards due to incessant rains.

Schools Remain Shut in Mizoram

Mizoram has also been affected by the intense rainfall activity. Schools in Aizawl, the state capital, remained closed for the second consecutive day. A notification from Aizawl Deputy Commissioner and District Disaster Management Authority Chairman, Er. Lalhriatpuia, confirmed the closure, citing “heavy inundation of rainfall” over the past several hours as the reason.

The statement read: “Due to heavy inundation of rainfall in the past several hours in Aizawl district, all schools within Aizawl district have been instructed to declare holiday on Friday.”

Rainfall Wreaks Havoc Beyond Kerala and Mizoram

The heavy rains aren’t limited to these two states. Several other parts of the country are also facing pre-monsoon weather extremes. Last week, Bengaluru (Bangalore) experienced one of its heaviest pre-monsoon showers in recent memory, recording 130 mm of rainfall in a single day. The downpour brought the city to a standstill, causing severe traffic snarls, flooding, and disruption to normal life.

Meanwhile, Mumbai too reported an early arrival of the southwest monsoon, with certain districts receiving more than 200 mm of rainfall. The early advent of the monsoon season across coastal and northeastern India has pushed local and state governments to ramp up disaster preparedness and public advisories.

Safety Measures and Public Advisory

As the IMD continues to monitor the monsoon progression and issue timely warnings, state disaster management authorities have urged citizens to stay indoors, avoid unnecessary travel, and follow advisories from local administrations. School closures are part of a broader set of preventive actions aimed at minimizing risk to life and property during this critical weather phase.

People residing in red and orange alert districts are being asked to remain vigilant, especially those in low-lying or flood-prone areas. Local authorities have been instructed to activate emergency response teams, and educational institutions are being advised to remain in close coordination with district officials for further guidance.

Conclusion

With climate patterns becoming increasingly unpredictable, the early onset and intensity of the monsoon have once again highlighted the importance of proactive weather monitoring and responsive local governance. As Kerala and Mizoram take preventive measures by closing schools amid red alerts, other states under warning are also on high alert.

Parents, students, and educators are encouraged to stay updated through official state government bulletins and IMD forecasts as weather conditions continue to evolve over the coming days.