Three killed as heavy rain triggers landslides and floods across Kerala; IMD issues red alert

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 districtsThe worsthit 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 rainfallThree killed in separate landslide incidentsIn 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 SaturdayAccording to the district administration the landslide destroyed the familys house Sumathis husband and son were rescued by neighbours before emergency teams arrived Both sustained injuries and were admitted to a hospital in ThodupuzhaPersonnel from the National Disaster Response Force NDRF Fire and Rescue Services police and revenue departments later recovered Sumathis body following a search operationIn 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 hospitalRescue teams continued searching for Josephs mother who was feared trapped beneath the debrisIn another incident in Idukkis Vagamon area Prabhakaran Nair a resident of Vaikom in Kottayam district died after a landslide hit his relatives house where he was sleeping His body was recovered after several hours of search operationsFlooding and landslides disrupt normal lifeContinuous heavy rainfall triggered multiple landslides and widespread flooding across Idukki districtAt Upputhara a police jeep parked near a hillside was damaged after a landslide The overflowing Pullakayar River submerged the Kokkayar lowlevel crossing flooding at least six houses in the surrounding area Authorities shifted affected families to safer locationsSeveral roads were rendered impassable due to landslides and rising water levels The KattappanaVazhavara 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 blockedAuthorities also announced the opening of shutters at several minor dams in Idukki as a precautionary measureRescue operations underway across KottayamHeavy rain caused widespread flooding in Erattupetta Kanjirappally Koottickal and Erumeli in Kottayam district inundating residential areas and disrupting transportIn 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 locationsThe overflow of the Manimala and Pullakayar rivers further worsened the situation in Koottickal and Mundakkayam submerging causeways lowlevel crossings and several homes Traffic remained disrupted as floodwaters continued to risePathanamthitta and other districts also affectedFresh landslides were reported from hilly regions of Pathanamthitta district while the rising Pampa River flooded several lowlying areasRanni 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 riseOfficials 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 districtHeavy rainfall also affected the hilly areas of Kollam district while flooding and minor landslides were reported from Kozhikode Malappuram and Palakkad districtsIn Kozhikodes Chaliyam fishermen were rescued after their fishing boat became stranded in rough seas caused by high wavesIMD issues red alert for eight districtsThe India Meteorological Department has forecast continued heavy rainfall across Kerala and urged people living in vulnerable areas to remain alertThe IMD has issued a red alert for Pathanamthitta Kottayam Idukki Malappuram Kozhikode Wayanad Kannur and Kasaragod districts indicating the likelihood of extremely heavy rainfallAn orange alert has been issued for Ernakulam Thrissur and Palakkad districtsIn 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 landslideprone and lowlying areas to follow official advisories and move to safer places if requiredWith inputs from PTI