Thiruvananthapuram, 01 August (H.S.) :Three people were killed in separate landslide incidents as torrential rain battered Kerala's high-range districts on Saturday, triggering widespread destruction, road disruptions and emergency rescue operations. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a Red Alert for eight districts, warning of extremely heavy rainfall and the possibility of further landslides and flooding.
In Idukki district, a woman identified as Sumathi of Mashikkallel in the seventh ward of Kudayathoor died after a landslide buried her house at Adoormala. Two other occupants of the house were rescued. At Kokkayar, the Chappath bridge was submerged following the heavy rain, cutting off connectivity. In Vagamon's Kolahalamedu, rescue teams recovered the body of Prabhakaran Nair (72), a native of Vaikom, who was trapped after a massive landslip crashed onto a house belonging to his relative Leelamani.
Another fatality was reported from Payyanithottam in Poonjar Thekkekara, Kottayam district, where a house collapsed in a landslide. The victim was identified as Josephine Jony (24). Her mother, Regina, remains trapped inside the damaged house as rescue operations continue.
Heavy rain caused extensive damage across several parts of Idukki and Kottayam. At Upputhara, a police jeep was crushed by falling earth shortly after the officers had stepped out of the vehicle, allowing them to escape unhurt. In Elappara, a person remains trapped after a landslide struck a house, while another person is feared trapped in a similar incident at Kolahalamedu, Vagamon. Landslips also disrupted traffic on roads connecting Vagamon and Erattupetta, while floodwaters inundated stretches of the K.K. Road.
Further landslides were reported from Moonnilavu and several locations in Meenachil and Kanjirappally taluks. The house of KSRTC Pala depot driver Rajesh was completely washed away. Authorities have opened six relief camps to accommodate families displaced by the disaster.
The IMD has forecast extremely heavy rainfall across Kerala on Saturday. Red Alert has been issued for Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod districts. Orange Alert is in force for Ernakulam and Thrissur, while Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Alappuzha remain under Yellow Alert.
According to the weather department, the intense rainfall is being caused by a low-pressure trough extending from the south Gujarat coast to the north Kerala coast. Rainfall between 115.6 mm and 204.4 mm is expected in Red Alert districts over the next 24 hours, while Yellow Alert districts may receive 64.5 mm to 115.5 mm of rain. Strong winds of 40-50 kmph are also likely over the next two days.
Authorities have also warned of high waves and possible coastal erosion along the coasts of Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod. Coastal residents have been advised to remain vigilant, while fishermen have been directed not to venture into the sea. Fishing has been prohibited along the Kerala, Karnataka and Lakshadweep coasts until weather conditions improve.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman
