India, Aug. 1 -- Heavy rain continued to lash Kerala on Wednesday, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue an orange alert in 11 districts. With more downpours expected, authorities have declared a holiday for schools and other educational institutions in four districts and advised people in vulnerable areas to stay alert.

The IMD has issued an orange alert for the following districts: Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod. Thrissur, Palakkad and Malappuram are currently under a lower alert level, but authorities have warned that weather conditions could worsen. An orange alert means heavy to very heavy rainfall (11.5 cm to 20.4 cm...