Four killed in landslides as heavy rain triggers floods across Kerala

Four people were killed in separate landslides in Idukki and Kottayam districts on Saturday as incessant heavy rain triggered floods and landslides across Kerala, officials said.

In Idukki, 65-year-old Sumathi was killed after debris from a landslide hit her house in the Adoormala area near Kudayathoor. Her husband Ravi and son Ratheesh were rescued by neighbours and admitted to a hospital with injuries. The house was destroyed, and Sumathi's body was recovered by a joint team of the National Disaster Response Force, Fire and Rescue Services, police and revenue officials.

In Kottayam, 24-year-old Josephine died after being trapped under debris in a landslide at Payyanithottam in Poonjar. His mother, Rejina Johny, 46, was also trapped and later found dead. Josephine was rescued but succumbed to his injuries while being taken to hospital.

In another incident, 77-year-old Prabhakaran Nair died after a landslide hit a house in Vagamon, Idukki. His body was recovered after an hours-long search.

Several parts of Idukki were affected by landslides and flooding. The Kokkayar low-level crossing was submerged after the Pullakayar river overflowed, while around six houses were inundated and families shifted to safer locations. Landslides also blocked roads in Kattappana, Vazhavara and Nellimala, while waterlogging disrupted traffic on National Highway 183.

In Kottayam, heavy rain caused flooding in Erattupetta, Kanjirappally, Koottickal and Erumeli. Several houses were inundated and rescue teams evacuated residents from upper floors. Causeways and low-level crossings in Koottickal and Mundakkayam were also submerged.

Flooding and landslides were reported in parts of Pathanamthitta, where boats were deployed to rescue people stranded in their homes and relief camps were opened.

Heavy rain and minor landslides were also reported in Kollam, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Kannur and Palakkad. Traffic on the Wayanad ghat road was regulated due to the risk of landslides. A four-year-old child died after falling into a waterbody in Malappuram.

The India Meteorological Department has forecast continued heavy rain and issued a red alert for eight districts — Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod. An orange alert has been issued for Ernakulam, Thrissur and Palakkad.

Authorities have kept rescue teams on alert and advised people in vulnerable areas to exercise caution.