Woman killed in Idukki landslide as heavy rain batters Kerala

A woman was killed in an Idukki landslide as incessant rain triggered floods and fresh landslides across central Kerala. Rescue operations are underway in affected districts, while the IMD has issued red alerts for several districts forecasting extremely heavy rainfall.

Idukki: A woman was killed after a landslide buried her house in the high-range Idukki district on Saturday, while incessant heavy rain triggered floods and fresh landslides across central Kerala, with several people feared trapped under debris in Kottayam district, officials said.

The deceased was identified as Sumathi, a resident of the Adoormala area. Debris from a landslide struck her house in the early hours of Saturday, the district administration said.

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Neighbours managed to rescue her husband Ravi and the couple’s son. Both sustained injuries and were admitted to a hospital in Thodupuzha.

Authorities said the family’s house was destroyed in the landslide.

Sumathi’s body was recovered after a search operation carried out by personnel of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Fire and Rescue Services, police and revenue officials.

In another incident, a person was reportedly trapped after a landslide hit a house in the Vagamon area of Idukki district. Rescue operations were underway, officials said, adding that traffic in the area came to a standstill after debris blocked the road.

Meanwhile, at Upputhara, a parked police jeep was damaged in a landslide.

With the Pullakayar river overflowing, the Kokkayar low-level crossing (chappath) was submerged. Around six houses were inundated in the surrounding area, and the affected families were shifted to safer locations, officials said.

Authorities said several other landslides were reported from different parts of the district. Heavy rain also disrupted traffic at multiple locations.

The road between Kattappana and Vazhavara was blocked following a landslide, while rising water levels in the Chottupara stream at Vandiperiyar led to waterlogging on National Highway 183.

The road at Nellimala was also blocked, affecting vehicular movement.

Authorities have announced the opening of the shutters of minor dams in the district.

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

A house was buried under debris in a landslide at Payyanithottam in Poonjar, where two persons are feared trapped.

Search and rescue operations were continuing to trace them.

Erattupetta town witnessed a sudden rise in water levels overnight, forcing authorities to halt vehicular traffic.

Several houses in Erattupetta, including those in Nadakkal and Murikkoly, were inundated.

Rescue personnel, assisted by local residents, evacuated people stranded on the upper floors of their homes to safer locations. Traffic in the area remained completely disrupted, according to officials.

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, while 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, in a social media post, said heavy flooding had been reported in Ranni and adjoining areas. He urged people to remain cautious as river water levels had risen to dangerous levels and said floodwaters had entered several houses and shops.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast continued heavy rainfall in parts of Kerala, prompting authorities to keep rescue teams on alert and advise people in vulnerable areas to remain cautious.

The IMD issued a red alert predicting very heavy rain in Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod districts.

An orange alert has been issued for Ernakulam, Thrissur and Palakkad districts.

District administrations announced holidays for schools in several districts in view of the forecast of heavy rain on Saturday.