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Sudden Flood Turns Holiday Into Tragedy in Kerala
Kerala : A sudden spell of intense rain turned parts of Kerala into scenes of devastation on Sunday, with flash floods and landslides reported across multiple districts, leaving several people dead, others missing and rescue teams racing against time. In Idukki’s Kottakamboor area near Vattavada, a landslide struck a temporary farm shed amid heavy rainfall, killing two siblings, Balakrishnan and Chinnu, while Balakrishnan’s wife Mariyamma was seriously injured and rescued from the debris.
Meanwhile, a separate flash flood in the Kottapuzha River near Pookkottumpadam in Malappuram’s Nilambur area caused another major tragedy when a sudden surge of water swept away people gathered near the river on Sunday evening. The river reportedly rose rapidly despite no rain at the immediate location, apparently following heavy rainfall in the upstream forest areas. Several people were swept away, with rescue personnel, police, fire and rescue teams and local residents joining the search operation. By Monday morning, the Nilambur flash-flood toll had risen to five, with one person still missing, while three others had been rescued.
The incident occurred on a holiday when the riverside area was crowded with visitors, many of whom had reportedly been attracted to the scenic location through social media posts. The sudden rise in water left little time for people to react, with some visitors reportedly standing or sitting on rocks in the river when the water surged. Rescue operations were made difficult by strong currents and the terrain, but local residents and officials continued searching along different stretches of the river.
The weather situation has remained a concern across Kerala, with heavy rainfall triggering landslides, flash-flood risks and disruptions in several areas, while authorities have urged people in vulnerable locations to remain alert. The incidents serve as a stark reminder of how quickly water levels can rise in hilly and forested regions, particularly when intense rainfall occurs upstream even while skies remain relatively calm at the spot where people are gathered.
