A total of four people lost their lives on Saturday as incessant downpours triggered landslides and widespread flooding across several parts of Kerala, resulting in submersion of roads, homes damaged and hundreds of residents displaced, officials said. Rescue teams were pressed into service across multiple districts as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned of continuous heavy to very heavy rainfall, sounding a Red Alert for 8 districts. 

Idukki, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta were among the worst-affected districts, where landslides occurred, coupled with overflowing rivers and waterlogging. 

Landslides kill four

In Idukki district, Sumathi, a resident of the Adoormala area near Kudayathoor, died after a landslide struck her house in the early hours of Saturday. As per the district administration officials, debris engulfed her house, leaving it completely destroyed. 

However, neighbours managed to rescue her husband, Ravim and their son, Ratheesh, who sustained injuries and were admitted to a hospital in Thodupuzha. After the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Fire and Rescue Services, the police and revenue officials carried out an extensive search operation, Sumathi’s body was recovered. 

On the other hand, a landslide occurred in the Kottayam district, proving fatal for one Josephine, who succumbed to his injuries while being transported to the hospital after being pulled out of the debris. His mother, Rejina Johny, who was also trapped beneath the rubble, was found dead during the course of the rescue operation. 

Vagamon area in Idukki district reported another fatality, where Prabhakaran Nair, a native of Vaikom in Kottayam, died after a landslide ravaged the house of his relatives while he was fast asleep. His body was found after an hours-long search. 

Towns, villages reel under waterlogging

Heavy downpours continued to lash central Kerala, sending the rivers in spate and inundating residential areas as well and disrupting transport networks. 

The Pullakayar River overflowed in Idukki, submerging the Kokkayar low-level crossing and flooding numerous houses. A parked police jeep was also destroyed after a landslide in Upputhara, while roads linking Kattappana to Vazhavara and stretches near Nellimala were blocked due to the debris. 

National Highway 183 was also inundated after water levels rose in the Chottupara stream, disrupting commutes on the stretch.  

Red Alert issued for 8 districts

The IMD has issued a red alert for numerous districts like Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod, where extremely heavy rainfall is likely to occur. Meanwhile, the weather body sounded an orange alert for Ernakulam, Thrissur and Palakkad.