A flash flood in the Kottapuzha River near TK Colony in Nilambur, Kerala, has claimed five lives, while rescue teams are searching for a local woman who remains missing. It happened on Sunday evening, September 20, after heavy rains in the forested areas upstream caused the river water to rise suddenly.
Sudden Rise in River Water.
The flash flood occurred around 5 to 5:30 PM on Sunday near the TK Colony eco-tourism area in Pookkottumpadam, Malappuram district.
The river level increased sharply within minutes after heavy rainfall in the upstream forest areas, the newspaper reported. People near the river were caught by surprise, it said.
The area was filled with visitors, as Sunday was a holiday. There were a few tourists camped out on different stretches of the river, some in the water and others sitting on rocks.
Five Bodies Recovered
There were two dead initially, as the floodwaters swept away two people. Search operations resumed on Monday morning after being suspended overnight due to darkness, strong currents, and difficult conditions.
Three more bodies were recovered on Monday, taking the death toll to five. The deceased were identified as Muhammedkutty, Anas, Rahim, Sajjad, and Rafeeq, the officials said.
The recovered bodies were transferred to Government Medical College Hospital, Manjeri, for further procedures.
Search Continues for Sajitha
Search teams are also working to find Sajitha, a local resident of TK Colony, who was also swept away by the strong current.
Reports said Sajitha had been near the river to wash clothes when the flash flood struck. She remains missing as rescue teams search various stretches of the Kottapuzha River.
There is now a joint effort from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Fire and Rescue Services, police, and the local population to search. The search resumed early Monday after conditions improved and the river level receded.
Local Residents Helped in Rescue
The sudden flooding also left several people stranded on rocks and trees. Local residents rushed to help those caught in the rising water.
According to The New Indian Express, around 30 people who took shelter on rocks and tree branches were rescued by locals. A few others were stranded at different locations before being rescued.
When did the flash flood happen?
The incident happened on Sunday, September 20, 2026, from 5 PM to 5:30 PM, at the Kottapuzha River near TK Colony in the Nilambur area of Malappuram, Kerala.
