3 killed as heavy rain triggers landslides, floods across Kerala; houses damaged

Heavy rains triggered landslides and flooding across Kerala, with Idukki and Kottayam among the worst-hit districts, where houses were damaged and roads were blocked.

In Short

• Rescue teams shifted families after rivers overflowed and houses were inundated
• Road links and causeways went under water, disrupting traffic in multiple districts
• A woman, a youth and a visitor died in separate landslides

Three people were killed and rescue teams were deployed in several places after heavy rain triggered landslides and flooding across Kerala on Saturday, officials said.

The worst-hit districts included Idukki and Kottayam, where houses were damaged, roads were blocked and people were moved to safer places.

Rain-related incidents were also reported from Pathanamthitta, Kollam, Kozhikode, Malappuram and Palakkad. With the India Meteorological Department forecasting more heavy rain, authorities kept rescue teams on alert, issued warnings for vulnerable areas and announced holidays for educational institutions in several districts.

In Idukki district, Sumathi of Adoormala near Kudayathoor was killed after debris from a landslide hit her house in the early hours of Saturday, the district administration said. Neighbours rescued her husband and son, who were injured and admitted to a hospital in Thodupuzha.

Officials said the house was destroyed. Sumathi's body was recovered after a search by the National Disaster Response Force, Fire and Rescue Services, police and revenue officials.

In Kottayam district, a youth identified as Joseph, son of Johny, died in a landslide at Payyanithottam in Poonjar. Officials said his mother was buried under the debris and a search was under way for her. Joseph was rescued but died of his injuries while being taken to hospital.

In another landslide in the Vagamon area of Idukki, Prabhakaran Nair, a native of Vaikom in Kottayam, died after a house was hit. Officials said he was sleeping in one of the bedrooms of his relative's house when the landslide occurred. His body was recovered after a search that lasted several hours.

Landslides and flooding were reported from different parts of Idukki. At Upputhara, a parked police jeep was damaged in a landslide. The Pullakayar river overflowed and submerged the Kokkayar low-level crossing, or chappath.

Around six houses in the area were inundated and the families were shifted to safer places, officials said. Heavy rain also disrupted traffic at several locations.

A landslide blocked the Kattappana-Vazhavara road, rising water in the Chottupara stream at Vandiperiyar caused waterlogging on National Highway 183, and the road at Nellimala was blocked. Authorities also announced the opening of the shutters of minor dams in the district.

In neighbouring Kottayam, heavy rain caused widespread flooding in Erattupetta, Kanjirappally, Koottickal and Erumeli, inundating residential areas, disrupting traffic and prompting large-scale rescue operations.

Water levels rose suddenly in Erattupetta overnight, forcing authorities to stop vehicular movement. Several houses in areas including Nadakkal and Murikkoly were flooded.

Rescue personnel, helped by local residents, moved people stranded on the upper floors of their houses to safer places, officials said. Traffic in the area remained completely disrupted.

In Koottickal and Mundakkayam, water levels continued to rise after the Manimala and Pullakayar rivers overflowed. The Koottickal causeway and low-level crossing were submerged, and water entered several houses. Traffic was also affected after the Mundakkayam causeway went under water.

More landslides were reported from the hilly areas of Pathanamthitta district. Ranni MLA Pazhakulam Madhu said in a social media post that heavy flooding had been reported in Ranni and nearby areas, and urged people to remain cautious as river levels had risen to dangerous levels and floodwater had entered several houses and shops.

Officials said several parts of Ranni and adjoining areas were cut off, boats were deployed to rescue people trapped in their houses, and heavy rain along with landslides caused a sharp rise in the water level of the Pampa river. Relief camps have also been set up in the district.

Heavy rain was also reported in the hilly areas of Kollam district. Flooding and minor landslides were reported in Kozhikode, Malappuram and Palakkad districts. In Chaliyam in Kozhikode, a fishing boat was stranded in high waves and the fishermen were later rescued.

The IMD has forecast more heavy rain in parts of Kerala. It issued a red alert for Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod, and an orange alert for Ernakulam, Thrissur and Palakkad. Overall, the rain left three people dead, damaged homes and roads, and kept rescue teams busy across several districts in the state.

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