The weather agency has sounded an alert in the coastal areas of Kerala and Tamil Nadu about the possibility of ‘Kallakkadal’ phenomenon on Monday and urged fishermen to safely moor their fishing vessels in the harbour.
The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has advised people living in accident-prone coastal areas to relocate to safer places.
People have also been advised to completely avoid travelling to the beaches and venturing into the sea on Monday as the ‘Kallakkadal’ phenomenon, accompanied by high tides, is likely to continue till 11.30 pm.
What is Kallakkadal?
The word ‘Kallakkadal’ is derived from two Malayalam words—Kallan (thief) and Kadal (sea). The word is used to describe the situation when the ‘thief-like’ sea waves lash the coastal areas, sometimes causing severe flooding and devastation.
Such flash floods occur even without any noticeable change in local wind or coastal environment. The phenomenon, considered to be a result of growing climate change, is characterised by high sea waves and it occurs mostly during pre-monsoon or post-monsoon season.
Sometimes, the phenomenon continues for a few days and the water level during high tides can reach as much as 3-4 metre above the maximum water level.
Though Kallakkadal used to emerge without any prior warning, the INCOIS in 2020 launched an early warning system called the Swell Surge Forecast System. The new system can give a 7-day advance warning.
