Wayanad district authorities have declared a holiday for all educational institutions on Thursday, July 30, following an orange alert issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicting very heavy rainfall.

The holiday applies to schools, anganwadis, madrasa classes, tuition centres, special classes and professional colleges in the district, according to the district administration.

The order, however, will not apply to residential schools and residential colleges.

The decision comes after the IMD placed Wayanad among the districts under orange alert for July 30, warning of the possibility of isolated very heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms.

Kozhikode, Kannur also under orange alert

For July 30, the IMD has issued an orange alert for Kozhikode, Wayanad and Kannur districts, indicating a possibility of very heavy rainfall.

However, no school holiday announcement has been made so far by Kozhikode or Kannur district administrations.

Any changes or fresh holiday orders from these districts will depend on further weather developments and decisions by local authorities.

What does IMD orange alert mean?

An orange alert indicates the possibility of very heavy rainfall. The IMD defines very heavy rainfall as rainfall between 115.6 mm and 204.4 mm within 24 hours.

The weather department has advised residents in vulnerable areas to remain cautious, especially in regions prone to landslides, flooding and strong winds.

The IMD has issued multiple orange and yellow alerts across Kerala as parts of the state are expected to receive heavy rainfall over the coming days.

Authorities have advised people living near rivers, dams, landslide-prone areas and low-lying regions to follow safety instructions and avoid unnecessary travel during intense rainfall.

The IMD has also stated that weather alerts may change depending on evolving conditions.