Reliving painful memories of the devastating 2018 floods, Kerala witnessed widespread destruction as incessant rain triggered flash floods, landslides and waterlogging across several districts, claiming at least four lives and disrupting normal life.
The worst-hit districts were Pathanamthitta, Idukki and Kottayam, where torrential overnight rainfall caused rivers to overflow, roads to collapse and houses to be buried under landslides.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod, warning of extremely heavy rainfall exceeding 204 mm within 24 hours.
In Idukki, two people lost their lives in separate landslides. A 69-year-old woman, Sumathi, died after a massive landslide buried her house near Adurmala in Kudayathoor around 2 am. Her husband, Ravi Narayanan, and son, Ratheesh, were rescued with injuries after a prolonged search operation carried out by a 29-member National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team, Fire and Rescue Services personnel and local residents. Another victim, Prabhakaran Nair, 72, was killed in Vagamon when a landslide destroyed part of the house where he was staying with relatives. Rescue workers retrieved his body after demolishing a section of the damaged building.
Kottayam district also witnessed severe devastation. A landslide at Poonjar buried a house, killing Regina Johnny and her son Joseph Johnny.
The heavy rainfall caused rivers to swell rapidly. In Pathanamthitta, the Pampa River overflowed its banks, inundating houses, shops and public buildings in Ranni, Vadasserikkara, Ittiyappara, Attikayam and several downstream areas, including Aranmula. Ranni town remained submerged as rescue teams used inflatable boats to evacuate stranded families and shift them to relief camps.
Authorities reported that some regions recorded more than 30 cm of rainfall within just eight hours. Vagamon received 31.4 cm, Vadasserikkara recorded 33 cm, while Laha received 25 cm. The sudden downpour led to flash floods, landslides and rising reservoir levels across central Kerala.
Several roads were blocked following mudslides and landslips. Traffic was disrupted on the Kattappana-Vazhavara Road, Moolamattom-Vagamon Road and sections of National Highway 183. A temporary bridge at Kuzhiyodippadi in Kanchiyar was washed away, leaving nearly 100 families isolated. Floodwaters also submerged the Mundakkayam Causeway Bridge and parts of the Pala-Poonjar Road in Kottayam.