JUDGMENT :

(Nitin Jamdar, C.J.)

This sou motu writ petition concerns the aspect of Monsoon preparedness in the State of Kerala.

2. The south-west monsoon typically reaches the Kerala coast by first week of June. Kerala experiences heavy rainfall during the monsoon period, which consists of two primary phases: the south-west monsoon from June to September and the north-east monsoon from October to December. The south-west monsoon is the most significant, contributing substantially to the State's annual rainfall. Rainfall distribution varies between the southern regions and the northern regions of the State. The windward side of the Western Ghats experiences exceptionally high rainfall. During this period, Kerala receives extremely large quantity of freshwater, a significant portion of which flows into the Arabian Sea. Intense rainfall can cause flash floods, necessitating continuous monitoring of low-pressure systems and cyclone warnings. These warnings include forecasts on wind speed and direction for land and sea, advisories for fishermen, and district-specific colour-coded alerts for rainfall intensity. Low-pressure systems may develop into cyclones, making early warnings crucial.

3.