New Delhi, May 25 -- As heavy rain and strong winds battered parts of Kerala, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday issued an orange alert for one district and yellow alerts for 11 others across the state.

The IMD issued the orange alert for Ernakulam district, warning of very heavy rainfall during the day.

Yellow alerts were declared in 11 districts, excluding Palakkad and Wayanad.

An orange alert indicates very heavy rainfall between 11 cm and 20 cm, while a yellow alert signifies heavy rainfall ranging from 6 cm to 11 cm.

Meanwhile, the IMD has predicted an early onset of the monsoon which is expected to land in the state on May 26.

It had also predicted isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall over parts of Kerala betw...