8 dead as heavy rain wreaks havoc, triggers landslides, floods across Kerala

KOCHI: At least eight people were killed in rain-related incidents in the state as Kerala remained on high alert on Saturday, with incessant rain triggering landslides, severe flooding and widespread damage.IMD issued an orange alert for all districts except Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday and stated that the rain is likely to continue until Aug 7.Idukki, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts were the worst-hit. Vagamon recorded 314 mm of rain in 24 hours, while Vadasserikkara in Pathanamthitta received 302 mm and Laha 260 mm during the same period, according to Kerala State Disaster Management Authority.Landslides and flooding were reported in several parts of Idukki. A parked police jeep was damaged in a landslide at Upputhara, while traffic on the Kochi-Dhanushkodi National Highway was disrupted after a landslide near Chackochi Bend.Rising water levels in Chottupara Kaithodu at Vandiperiyar caused waterlogging on NH183.In neighbouring Kottayam, heavy rain inundated commercial and residential areas in Erattupetta, Kanjirappally, Koottickal, Erumeli and Pala, disrupting traffic and prompting rescue operations.Landslides were reported in the hilly areas of Pathanamthitta also. Several parts of Ranni, Kozhencherry and Aranmula along the banks of the Pampa River were cut off by floodwaters. The district administration deployed boats to rescue stranded residents, officials said.A woman and her son were killed in a landslide at Payyani Estate in Poonjar Thekkekara panchayat in Kottayam early Saturday. Regina Johny (50), wife of Manappattu M J John, and her son, Josephine Johny (28), died after their house was hit by the landslide. John was at a neighbouring house then.In Idukki, Sumathi (69) died after her house at Adoor Mala in Kudayathoor was buried under debris in a pre-dawn landslide. Her husband, Ravi, and son, Ratheesh, managed to escape. Prabhakaran Nair (72) of Vaikom died after a landslide struck his house at Kolahalamedu near Vagamon.An 11-year-old Class VI student, Milan K Shiju, died after falling into a waterlogged pit at a Jal Jeevan Mission reservoir construction site near his home in Vakathanam.In Kondotty, Malappuram, four-year-old Adam Aiman drowned after being swept away by a swollen stream at Neerad Koonayil. In another incident near Thiruvali in Vandoor, a three-year-old boy, Abdul Muhain, drowned after falling into a canal near his house.In Wayanad, Benny, a farmer from Padinjarathara, was electrocuted while pumping out water from a pond.Search operations continued on Saturday for four fishermen missing after two boats capsized off the Thiruvananthapuram coast on Friday night. The accidents occurred at Muthalapozhi and Vizhinjam as rough seas, strong winds and heavy rain lashed the district. Several other fishermen were rescued.Flooding and minor landslides were reported in Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Kannur, Kasaragod and Palakkad also. Engapuzha town in Kozhikode was inundated after a river overflowed.Landslides were reported in several high-range areas of Kozhikode and Kannur, while traffic on ghat roads in Wayanad was regulated following minor landslides.In Ernakulam, the eastern parts of the district, especially Kothamangalam, were the worst affected, with multiple landslides and widespread uprooting of trees.Authorities opened 14 of the 15 shutters of the Bhoothathankettu dam and raised the Malankara dam shutters to 1.5 metres as water levels continued to rise at the Idamalayar dam. At Chellanam, violent sea surges destroyed temporary geo-bag seawalls in Ward 6.In Thrissur, two cars were swept away by floodwaters near Guruvayur after incessant rain inundated several low-lying areas. A family of four, including two children, was travelling in one of the cars, while the other was occupied only by its driver.All five escaped unhurt. Meanwhile, a sluice gate of the Peringalkuthu dam was opened on Saturday afternoon after the reservoir’s water level rose steadily. Visits to tourist destinations, including Athirappilly and Vazhachal, have been temporarily banned in view of the continuing heavy rain.According to the state govt, 65 relief camps have been opened across the state, sheltering 1,465 people. As many as 17 houses were damaged and 127 partially damaged in the rain.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Kochi | Silver Rate in Kochi | Bank Holidays in Kochi | Public Holidays in KochiStay updated with the latest Kochi news. Download the TOI App.