Kozhikode: The sea water that had mysteriously receded along Kozhikode South Beach late Wednesday night began returning on Thursday morning, easing concerns among locals and visitors. The unusual pullback of the sea, which exposed nearly 200 metres of seabed over a 1.5 km stretch, had sparked widespread curiosity and concern,

By 9:30 am Thursday, the tide had started coming back in, and waves had resumed in previously exposed areas. The rare phenomenon, while visually dramatic, has been attributed to natural tidal behaviour.

“This is not the first time we’ve seen this. It happens every year. It is not because of a tsunami or something,” said a local resident.

Long-time residents and beach vendors backed this, noting the sea has shown similar behaviour in the past, particularly at Kozhikode and Kappad beaches.

“People may worry because the sea going so far back looks alarming, but this isn’t unusual here,” said a local resident. “It usually returns within hours — and that’s what we’re seeing today.”

The muddy appearance of the receded area and still water surface overnight gave way to a more active sea on Thursday morning, though wave activity remained moderate.

Rain & wind alerts still active

Meanwhile, weather alerts remain in effect for several Kerala districts. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued:

Orange alert for: Kottayam and Idukki

Yellow alert for: Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram

Thunderstorms with moderate rain and gusty winds up to 40 kmph are likely in Kozhikode and Kannur on Thursday.