The Nilgiris district in Tamil Nadu has been hit by intense rainfall and multiple landslides, leaving a Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) bus trapped under debris on the Mettupalayam–Coonoor ghat road early on Saturday.
The rescue efforts were led by Fire and Rescue Service personnel from Mettupalayam, Coonoor, Periyanaickenpalayam, Annur, Kavundampalayam and Sulur.
An initial update from officials confirmed that the conductor Kesavan and a passenger who was reportedly in serious condition had been rescued and taken to Government Hospital in Mettupalayam.
P. N. Anil Kumar, fire officer said the bus was badly damaged because a tree or other heavy debris fell on it. Mud and slush came into the vehicle and it was difficult for the passengers inside to escape without any help.
Rescue workers were removing the rubble and fallen trees and were taking stock of the situation inside and around the damaged bus. More rescue efforts were subsequently reported in later reports, but the casualties were different between initial reports and later ones.
The landslide disrupted travel for hundreds of students from Kerala who were travelling to Ooty. Traffic was blocked on the Mettupalayam-Coonoor ghat road and some students were stranded for hours.
Police and Fire and Rescue Services personnel helped them to safer places and arranged minibuses to take them away from the affected area. They showed the dangers for tourists travelling through Nilgiris in the monsoon period when steep slopes, narrow roads and falling trees can quickly turn a normal trip into a disaster.
The disruption was widespread beyond Burliyar. Heavy rains triggered landslides at 19 sites in the Mettupalayam-Ooty, Ooty-Kotagiri, Mettupalayam-Kotagiri and Ooty-Manjoor road networks. Tree falls were also reported at 18 locations across the district during the 24-hour period.
Such incidents blocked roads and hampered the restoration of normal traffic. Rescue teams had to work together to clear up collapsed road sections and assess the safety of the roadways before vehicles were able to travel back to their destinations. There were also reports of a restriction on access to the hill roads because officials were worried about more landslides.
Due to the adverse weather conditions, Nilgiris District Collector Lakshmi Bhavya Taneeru announced a holiday for schools in the district on Saturday and instructed schools not to hold special classes.
The district administration also imposed a restriction on vehicle movement (TNSTC bus services) from 6 pm to 7 am for three days and granted exemptions to ambulances and essential services.
The move was intended to reduce the risk to motorists and passengers travelling through vulnerable stretches during the night and early morning when visibility may be low and landslides can occur without warning. Travellers were advised not to go to the hill district unless it is mandatory and to follow orders from police and district administration.
The emergency response was closely monitored by senior officials including Minister for Backward Classes Welfare V. Sampath Kumar, Coimbatore Collector Pavan Kumar G. Giriyappanavar, Inspector General Ramya Bharathi and other police officials. They were there because they recognised the seriousness of the situation and were aware that district authorities, rescue teams and transport officials were working to coordinate.
Most of the immediate priority was to find anyone still trapped, provide medical care to the wounded people, clear road obstructions and avoid further casualties.
The Burliyar incident is a stark reminder of the dangers of travelling through the Western Ghats in the presence of heavy rainfall. When the slopes soak up, soil, rocks and fallen trees can fall onto roads with little warning.
VIDEO | Tamil Nadu: Landslide hits government bus near Burliyar amid heavy rains in Nilgiris district. (Source: Third Party) (Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/d8jp61yd2p) https://t.co/YGlQYtXMEl
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Weather warnings and road closures and emergency road restrictions are therefore very important to manage as well as to ensure that people from the area that is prone to landslides and people living on the road do not take things for granted.
With 250 mm of rain recorded at Burliyar in just 24 hours and road obstacles reported throughout Nilgiris, the district administration is taking control of the land so the removal and safety assessment is continuing.
Travelers should check official road status information before they set out, avoid roads blocked by mud, rocks and floodwater and never try to pass through the mud, rocks or floodwater in the wet areas.
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