01 August,2026 10:32 AM IST | Idukki/Kottayam | mid-day online correspondent
Pic/PTI
At least three people were killed and several others were trapped after landslides triggered by incessant rainfall struck parts of Kerala on Saturday, while widespread flooding, overflowing rivers and road blockages disrupted normal life across multiple districts.
The worst-hit districts included Idukki, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta, where rescue teams were deployed to evacuate stranded residents as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned of continued heavy to very heavy rainfall.
In Idukki district, a woman identified as Sumathi died after a landslide struck her house in the Adoormala area near Kudayathoor during the early hours of Saturday.
According to the district administration, the landslide destroyed the family's house. Sumathi's husband and son were rescued by neighbours before emergency teams arrived. Both sustained injuries and were admitted to a hospital in Thodupuzha.
Personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Fire and Rescue Services, police and revenue departments later recovered Sumathi's body following a search operation.
In Kottayam district, a landslide at Payyanithottam in Poonjar claimed the life of a youth identified as Joseph. Although he was pulled out from the debris, he succumbed to his injuries while being taken to hospital.
Rescue teams continued searching for Joseph's mother, who was feared trapped beneath the debris.
In another incident in Idukki's Vagamon area, Prabhakaran Nair, a resident of Vaikom in Kottayam district, died after a landslide hit his relative's house where he was sleeping. His body was recovered after several hours of search operations.
Continuous heavy rainfall triggered multiple landslides and widespread flooding across Idukki district.
At Upputhara, a police jeep parked near a hillside was damaged after a landslide. The overflowing Pullakayar River submerged the Kokkayar low-level crossing, flooding at least six houses in the surrounding area. Authorities shifted affected families to safer locations.
Several roads were rendered impassable due to landslides and rising water levels. The Kattappana-Vazhavara road was blocked after a landslide, while waterlogging on National Highway 183 near Vandiperiyar disrupted traffic following a rise in the Chottupara stream. Vehicular movement was also affected after the Nellimala road was blocked.
Authorities also announced the opening of shutters at several minor dams in Idukki as a precautionary measure.
Heavy rain caused widespread flooding in Erattupetta, Kanjirappally, Koottickal and Erumeli in Kottayam district, inundating residential areas and disrupting transport.
In Erattupetta, water levels rose rapidly overnight, forcing authorities to suspend vehicular traffic. Several houses in Nadakkal and Murikkoly were flooded, prompting rescue teams and local residents to evacuate people stranded on upper floors to safer locations.
The overflow of the Manimala and Pullakayar rivers further worsened the situation in Koottickal and Mundakkayam, submerging causeways, low-level crossings and several homes. Traffic remained disrupted as floodwaters continued to rise.
Fresh landslides were reported from hilly regions of Pathanamthitta district, while the rising Pampa River flooded several low-lying areas.
Ranni MLA Pazhakulam Madhu, in a social media post, said floodwaters had entered homes and commercial establishments in Ranni and adjoining areas, urging residents to remain vigilant as river levels continued to rise.
Officials said several localities had become inaccessible due to flooding, with boats deployed to rescue residents trapped inside their homes. Relief camps have also been established across the district.
Heavy rainfall also affected the hilly areas of Kollam district, while flooding and minor landslides were reported from Kozhikode, Malappuram and Palakkad districts.
In Kozhikode's Chaliyam, fishermen were rescued after their fishing boat became stranded in rough seas caused by high waves.
The India Meteorological Department has forecast continued heavy rainfall across Kerala and urged people living in vulnerable areas to remain alert.
The IMD has issued a red alert for Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod districts, indicating the likelihood of extremely heavy rainfall.
An orange alert has been issued for Ernakulam, Thrissur and Palakkad districts.
In view of the adverse weather conditions, district administrations declared a holiday for educational institutions in several districts on Saturday. Authorities have also kept disaster response teams on standby and appealed to residents in landslide-prone and low-lying areas to follow official advisories and move to safer places if required.
(With inputs from PTI)
