Heavy Rainfall: These Kerala Districts Announce School Holiday
Thiruvananthapuram, July 17, 2025: Several districts across Kerala have declared holidays for educational institutions on Thursday following an orange alert issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and continuous heavy rainfall lashing various parts of the state.
The IMD issued an orange alert – indicating very heavy rain between 11 cm and 20 cm – for five districts: Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Kannur, and Kasaragod. The remaining districts of the state are under a yellow alert, forecasting heavy rain between 6 cm and 11 cm.
In response, district collectors in Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, Kasaragod, and Thrissur have declared a holiday for all educational institutions including schools, professional colleges, tuition centres, Anganwadis, madrasas, and nurseries. However, in most districts, previously scheduled examinations will be held as planned, with no changes in timings.
In Kozhikode, the district administration announced a full closure of schools, tuition centres, madrasas, and courtyard classes on Thursday due to the rain alert in force.
Wayanad has also declared a holiday for all educational institutions except residential schools. The holiday includes professional colleges, religious institutions, Anganwadis, and tuition centres. Exams already scheduled will proceed without changes.
In Kannur, the District Collector declared a holiday for schools, Anganwadis, religious institutions, and coaching centres. However, pre-scheduled examinations will not be affected.
The situation is more severe in Kasaragod, where continuous downpour has led to waterlogging in low-lying areas and overflowing of major rivers, including the Uppala and Mogral. The District Disaster Management Authority has issued warnings and urged people living near riverbanks to remain alert. In light of this, all educational institutions in Kasaragod – including schools, colleges, central institutions, and special classes – will remain shut on Thursday. Exams, however, will continue as scheduled.
In Thrissur, where the IMD has also issued an orange alert, the Collector has declared a holiday for all educational institutions, including nurseries, central schools, professional colleges, BSE, ICSE and e-schools. While no change has been made to the examination schedule, the Collector, Arjun Pandyan, issued a heartfelt message urging students to stay indoors and avoid venturing into rivers or reservoirs during the break. He dedicated the holiday to a young student, Salman, whom he met during a school marathon, encouraging children to use the day meaningfully and pursue their dreams with dedication.
As Kerala continues to face the brunt of the monsoon, authorities are maintaining a high level of preparedness. The Irrigation Design and Research Board (IDRB) has issued alerts for riverine flooding, particularly in Kasaragod, and local residents have been urged to exercise caution and follow safety advisories.
With the monsoon showing no signs of relenting, more districts may take precautionary steps in the coming days. Parents and students have been advised to monitor updates from district administrations and stay safe indoors.
