Six Dead as Heavy Monsoon Rains Trigger Floods and Landslides Across Kerala

Six people died in Kerala on Saturday following torrential rainfall that triggered landslides and flooding across the state. The casualties include two people in Idukki, two in Kottayam, and two children in Malappuram who slipped into streams. In Thrissur, a 75 year old man died after falling into a canal. The India Meteorological Department issued a red alert for nine districts, including Idukki, Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Thrissur, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod. An orange alert remains in place for the remaining five districts.

Landslides caused significant property damage, destroying houses in Idukki and Kottayam. Flooding inundated residential areas and shops in Ranni, Aranmula, Pala, and Erattupetta. In Thrissur, severe waterlogging paralyzed traffic in the city center and at the Sakthan Bus Stand. Authorities have closed most tourism hubs and hill stations, and travel to Wayanad is restricted. The Travancore Devaswom board advised devotees to reconsider visits to the Sabarimala temple as the Pamba river swelled.

Infrastructure and water management systems are under pressure. The water level in the Idukki reservoir rose by over six feet in a single day, and shutters of several dams, including the Mangalam and Kanjirapuzha dams, were opened to manage excess water. The state government has deployed the National Disaster Response Force and the Coast Guard to assist in rescue operations, including a search for two missing fishermen in Thiruvananthapuram.

Government officials and news outlets presented the state's readiness differently. Center right sources highlighted the Revenue Minister's statement that the government was fully prepared and that the situation was under control. In contrast, a center source noted that the state was caught off guard because the most severely affected districts were only on yellow alert before the rain intensified.