Kerala’s mysterious ‘Thief Waves’ return—What tourists and locals need to know | Travel

The areas are likely to experience waves of upto 0.5 to 1.0 meters until 11.30 pm on the day, and so there is a possible threat of sea surge, according to the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS).

In view of the warning from the INCOIS, the agency that issues weather warnings for fishermen in the country, the Kerala Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) here advised coastal people to shift to safer locations from the dangerous-prone areas as per the direction of the authorities.

Coastal dwellers are advised not to venture into the sea in tiny vessels and country boats and to safely moor their fishing vessels in the harbour, an official statement said.

The authorities also advised avoiding any kind of tourism activities on beaches until the warning is withdrawn.

Extra vigilance should be exercised regarding the dangers of coastal erosion also due to the swell surge, the KSDMA added.

The term ‘kallakkadal’ literally means a sea that comes suddenly like a thief.

INCOIS has said that the swells result from strong winds in the southern part of the Indian Ocean at certain times, and that they occur suddenly without any particular indications or warning. Hence, the name ‘kallakkadal.’