Thiruvananthapuram: In view of the forecast of heavy rain and the issuance of a Red Alert, all educational institutions in Idukki, Pathanamthitta, Kannur, Wayanad, Ernakulam and Kasaragod have been declared a holiday on Thursday. Authorities have also imposed a ban on night travel in several districts and have regulated tourism activities.

The decision was taken by the respective District Collectors as a precautionary measure. All educational institutions, including anganwadis, madrasas, tuition centres, and special classes in the six districts, will remain closed. However, there will be no changes in the previously scheduled examinations.

The India Meteorological Department issued a Red Alert for Kannur, Kasaragod, Pathanamthitta, and Idukki districts on Thursday. An orange alert was declared in the rest of the districts for May 29.

Red alert indicates the possibility of extremely heavy rainfall above 204.5 mm. An orange alert indicates the possibility of heavy to very heavy rainfall (64 mm to 204 mm), while a yellow alert signifies the likelihood of rainfall up to 115 mm.

The Idukki district authorities have issued a travel ban on the Munnar Gap Road and the Neryamangalam–Adimali stretch of the Kochi–Dhanushkodi National Highway from 7 pm until May 30. People living along the banks of the Muvattupuzha River are advised to remain cautious, as two shutters of the Malankara Dam have been raised by an additional 50 cm, causing the river’s water level to rise.

The Ernakulam Collector has ordered the temporary closure of all tourist destinations under the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) and the Tourism Department in the district until further notice, in view of the predicted heavy rainfall.

In Wayanad, more than 674 people, including 271 women from 188 families, have been relocated to 17 relief camps across the district due to heavy rains. The highest number of relief camps has been set up in Sulthan Bathery taluk with eight camps, followed by Vythiri with seven and two in Mananthavady taluk.

Until June 1, the Pathanamthitta district authorities have banned night travel to hilly areas and restricted entry to all tourism destinations. The District Collector has also ordered a halt to all quarry operations.

The weather agency said that the southwest Monsoon has made further progress, advancing into more parts of Maharashtra, the remaining areas of Karnataka, most parts of Telangana, the rest of Andhra Pradesh, some regions of Chhattisgarh and Odisha, and the remaining parts of the west-central Bay of Bengal.