The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed eight teams across multiple districts in Kerala as part of its preparedness plan for the Southwest Monsoon 2026, following a request from the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA). According to an official statement, the teams were sent by the 4th Battalion of the NDRF, with each unit consisting of 30 personnel. They have been positioned in Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode, and Wayanad.

NDRF Operations Deputy Commandant Praveen S Prasad said the deployment was carried out in response to the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) forecast of an early monsoon onset. He added that multiple battalions have been sent to Kerala, with teams stationed in districts including Kozhikode, Wayanad, Thrissur, Ernakulam, and Kollam.

He also noted that four additional NDRF teams have been deployed in Tamil Nadu, covering areas such as Ooty, Tirunelveli, and Coimbatore, with further teams positioned in Chennai and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. A 24x7 control room at Arakkonam is coordinating with Kerala’s State Emergency Operations Centre to monitor weather conditions and ensure quick emergency response during the monsoon period. A 240-member NDRF contingent was also dispatched from Arakkonam to Kerala for large-scale preparedness operations. These personnel have been strategically placed across eight districts that are particularly vulnerable to heavy rainfall, flooding, and landslides.