Three dead, many feared missing in Kottayam landslide, as heavy rains pound Kerala

Three people died and many others feared missing following a landslide in Plappally in Koottickal village of Kottayam district on Saturday (October 16).

The landslide occurred in two places in Plappally in which 14 people have gone missing. The help of the Indian navy and airforce has been sought to carry out rescue works in the Koottickal panchayat. In a landslide at Kokkayar panchayat in Idukki district, at least 7 persons were reported missing while 17 were rescued.

Cyclonic circulations in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal have resulted in unseasonal and unexpected rains in several parts of Kerala as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday (October 16) issued red alert (extremely heavy rainfall) for five districts and an orange alert (heavy rains) for at least seven other districts. Two districts are under yellow alert, thereby indicating that all the 14 districts in the state are experiencing heavy rains.

A red alert has been issued for Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur and Pathanamthitta districts.

The IMD has forecast thunderstorms with moderate rainfall and 40kmph winds in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Pathanamthi, Idukki, Ernakulam and Thrissur.

A viral video shows a bus stuck in a waterlogged street with passengers struggling to come out.

The fury of the rains!
Red alert in five districts of #Kerala .
Gushing #flood waters!
Pathampuzha Kottayam pic.twitter.com/bWxaNeeECn

— Dr Roy Kallivayalil (@RoyKallivayalil) October 16, 2021

Another video from a village in Kottayam district shows people pushing a car on a road filled with knee-deep water.

Also read: Heavy rains expected in 7 districts of Kerala till October 15

The Chief Minister’s office has alerted people and asked them to avoid travelling to areas around mountains or rivers. A high-level meeting chaired by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan has decided to step up relief works in places where heavy rains have wreaked havoc. The CM instructed the officials to immediately evacuate people living in landslide and flood-prone areas.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the IMD has warned of widespread heavy rains in the state due to the low pressure area formed over Arabian Sea. The district administrations of Thiruvananthapuram and Pathanamthitta have warned of raising the shutters of various dams. Both the districts witnessed heavy lightning on Saturday early morning.

Local residents towing a KSRTC bus which got stuck in flood at Poonjar on Saturday. No loss of life.Heavy rain lashes #Kerala triggering floods and inundating several areas.#REDALERT in Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki & Thrissur. 4 shutters of Malampuzha dam opened. pic.twitter.com/D1dbOtEqcV

— Raam Das (@PRamdas_TNIE) October 16, 2021

In Kottayyam, the Mundakayam bridge got submerged in flood water. The district administration has issued necessary instructions to the police and revenue departments. NDRF, fire and rescue service teams are in place, providing necessary support to worst affected people. The BSNL and police are setting up emergency communication systems.

Medical teams are being readied for field-level disaster management.

The tahsil offices have been told to start relief camps while quarry blasting has been stopped for at least 24 houses.

Vulnerable populations around River Puramboke and Cannal Puramboke are being shifted to relief camps or taken to safe locations.

Police have stopped vehicular traffic, except emergency services, on ghat roads prone to landslides and flash floods.