Kerala Floods and Landslides Kill Three as IMD Sounds Red Alert in Eight Districts

Three people were killed and rescue teams continued searching for a missing woman as Kerala witnessed one of its worst spells of monsoon rain this season on Saturday. Heavy rain triggered landslides, flash floods and waterlogging across several districts, forcing evacuations and disrupting normal life. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has placed eight districts under a red alert, warning that very heavy to extremely heavy rain is likely to continue.

In Idukki, Sumathi died after a landslide crashed into her house at Kudayathoor. Her husband and son escaped with injuries. Another landslide in Vagamon claimed the life of Prabhakaran Nair, who was staying at a relative's home. In Kottayam's Poonjar, Joseph died on the way to hospital after being pulled out from under debris. Rescue teams are still searching for his mother, who is feared trapped.

Teams from the NDRF, Fire and Rescue Services, police and local officials are carrying out rescue work in the affected areas. Relief camps have been opened, while many families have been moved to safer places as rivers overflowed and fresh landslides were reported.

Floods hit Idukki, Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Kollam, Kozhikode, Malappuram and Palakkad. The Pampa, Manimala and Pullakayar rivers overflowed, flooding homes, roads and low level crossings. Traffic was badly affected on several roads, including parts of NH 183, while the shutters of some minor dams in Idukki were opened to manage rising water levels. In Kozhikode, fishermen stranded in rough seas near Chaliyam were rescued safely.

The IMD has issued a red alert for Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod. Orange alerts remain for Ernakulam, Thrissur and Palakkad. Authorities have declared holidays for educational institutions in several districts. The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority has urged people living in hilly and low lying areas to stay alert, avoid unnecessary travel and move to safer places if advised, as more heavy rain, flash floods and landslides are expected over the next 24 hours.