More rains hit Kerala on Monday as more torrential rains led to flash floods, landslides and mudslides that have left at least five people dead and two missing, local officials said.
The worst affected areas are Malappuram, Kottayam and Idukki, where rain-related incidents were reported on Sunday. Five people were swept away when floodwaters suddenly surged in the Kottapuzha River in Malappuram’s Nilambur-Amarambalam region, local reports said. Search and rescue teams, police, fire and rescue workers and residents are all involved in the search operation, and the two missing people are still being searched for, the report also said.
The flash flood occurred around 5 p.m. near TK Colony in Pookkottumpadam, Nilambur. This wave of water rushed through and flooded people in and around the river suddenly. Some people managed to escape by clinging to rocks and trees, and residents managed to save others from the swollen river; some even escaped due to the inundation of the river. But sudden flash floods can happen even if there is no heavy rainfall at the location in the immediate vicinity, especially when heavy rainfall is down in the river-stream or in the mountains.
Kottayam also saw fatal rain-related accidents. A 35-year-old woman from Chennai, Sangeetha Arul Lal, died after a landslip hit her as she was travelling on a two-wheeler near Velathussery on the Erattupetta-Vagamon road. The other person travelling with her was rescued and taken to a medical camp. In another incident at Mangalagiri in Poonjar Nadubhagam village, an 80-year-old man, Chelakkat Joseph, died due to a landslide that brought soil inside his house.
In Idukki district, a landslide struck a temporary shed at Kottakamboor near Vattavada in heavy rainfall and killed at least two people and a woman was seriously injured. The victims were reportedly taking shelter or were working in the temporary shed when the landslide occurred. Rescuers and residents tried to rescue those trapped following the landslide.
The worsening weather led Chief Minister Satheesan to order the monitoring of the situation. The Disaster Management Authority Commissioner Vigneswari had a conversation with the district collectors of Idukki and Kottayam. Residents received SMS alerts in the two districts, and collectors were advised to closely monitor local conditions and arrange evacuations where necessary.
The Chief Minister also ordered the immediate deployment of a special Disaster Management Force team to the Nilambur-Amarambalam area in Malappuram. Rescue agencies are on high alert as the search for the missing people continues and the possibility of further incidents in areas vulnerable to flooding and landslides is being assessed.
The India Meteorological Department has forecast heavy rainfall in parts of Kerala. Orange alerts for Kottayam and Idukki and other parts of the state have been issued for heavy rain, and residents are advised to stay alert. The IMD's orange category forecasts 11 cm to 20 cm of rainfall in 24 hours.
The recent weather has also raised concerns about travel through the hilly, riverbanks and landslide-prone areas. Residents should follow the instructions of the district administration and avoid entering swollen rivers and streams. In areas of saturated soil and heavy rainfall, the risk of landslides and flash floods is more imminent.
As rescue efforts continue and more rain is expected in Kerala, Kerala’s disaster management authorities remain on high alert. The administration is closely monitoring rainfall, river levels and ground conditions, with the hourly review ordered by the Chief Minister aimed at ensuring quicker action in areas facing an immediate threat.
