Northeast monsoon turns vigorous over Keralam; landslip disrupts rail traffic, orange alert for 9 districts on October 23, 2026

The northeast monsoon has entered a vigorous phase over Keralam, triggering widespread rainfall, particularly along the Western Ghats, under the influence of weather systems over the Bay of Bengal. Several areas received intense rain accompanied by lightning and gusty winds, resulting in waterlogging and minor landslips.

Overnight rain on Wednesday (October 21, 2026) triggered landslips along the railway line between Thiruvananthapuram and Nagercoil, derailing the locomotive of Bilaspur-Tirunelveli Superfast Express near Parassala in the early hours of Thursday. The locomotive derailed between Neyyattinkara and Parassala, near the Parassala railway station, around 2.19 a.m. No injuries have been reported.

Rail traffic disrupted

The incident disrupted rail traffic along the southern Keralam-Nagercoil-Kanyakumari region, forcing the railway authorities to detain, cancel or reschedule more than a dozen trains. Services were restored around 9.30 a.m. after restoration work, including re-railing and removing of the locomotive. After safety inspections, the Parasuram Express bound for Mangaluru left Parassala and safely crossed the affected section, after which train services were fully restored. A relief locomotive took the coaches of the derailed train back to Neyyattinkara, from where passengers were transported to various destinations by road.

Heavy rain

Meanwhile, the southern and central parts of Keralam received heavy rain with Mavelikara in Alappuzha and Venkurinji in Pathanamthitta recording the highest rainfall of 14 cm each in the 24 hours ending at 8.30 a.m. on Thursday (October 22, 2026), followed by Kayamkulam and Thycattussery in Alappuzha with 11 cm each.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy rain across Keralam for the next four days under the influence of a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal. The low-pressure area and its associated cyclonic circulation over the southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining Tamil Nadu coast are feeding moisture into the State, resulting in heavy to very heavy rain, particularly over the Ghat regions and southern and central districts.

Another low-pressure area is likely to form over the southeast and adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal around October 23, 2026. As the system moves northwestwards and intensifies, it is likely to trigger heavy rainfall in Keralam with the system enhancing moisture flow towards peninsular India, potentially increasing rainfall over the State from October 23 to 26. Fairly widespread rain, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds, is expected during the period.

Orange alert

Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Kannur were placed under an orange alert by the IMD on Thursday (October 22, 2026), with the possibility of intense thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds, while the remaining districts were under yellow alert for isolated heavy rain. For Friday (October 23, 2026), nine districts were placed under orange alert, while Malappuram, Palakkad, Thrissur, Ernakulam and Alappuzha were put on yellow alert. Heavy rain has also been forecast across Keralam on Saturday (October 24, 2026) and Sunday (October 25, 2026).