One dead, two missing as landslips, floods hit Kerala's Kottayam and Pathanamthitta

Heavy rainfall since Friday evening has triggered multiple landslips and flash floods across the eastern high ranges of Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts in Kerala, resulting in one death and two people missing, according to officials.

The deceased has been identified as Josephin Johny Manappatt, a resident of Payanithodu in Poonjar. A massive landslip hit his house, located at the foot of a hill, and buried it under debris. His mother, Rejeena Johny, remains missing, and search operations are under way. Another person, Prabhakaran Nair of Vaikom, has also been reported missing following a landslip that struck the house of Leelamani at Kolahalamedu near Vagamon.

In Teekoy panchayat, at least four houses were washed away after a landslip struck the Muppathekkar settlement. Several people sustained injuries and have been shifted to the homes of relatives nearby. A surge of water and slush swept through downstream residential areas, inundating houses and commercial establishments. The landslip also destroyed crops spread across several acres, while vehicles, including autorickshaws and two-wheelers, were either swept away or remained trapped under slush. Floodwaters also washed away the Illikunnu bridge in Teekoy.

The authorities have sounded a high alert across the high ranges and downstream areas amid fears of further landslips and flash floods. The Mundakkayam causeway remains submerged after floodwaters overtopped it, and water has entered several houses at Kootickal. Low-lying areas in Kanjirappally and Parathode remain inundated, and the Erumeli Valiyambalam Temple has also been flooded.

Large parts of Erattupetta town remain under water, prompting rescue teams to evacuate residents stranded by the rising floodwaters. On the Pala-Erattupetta road, floodwaters have submerged the carriageway at Moonnani. A landslip on the Erattupetta-Vagamon road has completely disrupted traffic along the route.

Major rivers in the region, including the Pampa and the Manimala, have overflowed their banks at several locations. The Meenachil river has also risen sharply, raising fears of flooding in Pala town and the low-lying areas further west.

According to data from the Automatic Weather Station of the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), Vagamon received 314 mm of rainfall during the 24 hours ending Saturday morning, while Pathampuzha in the foothills recorded 179.4 mm. In Pathanamthitta district, Vadasserikkara received 339 mm of rain over the same period.

In Pathanamthitta, a soil-slips was reported near Thoobakkulam, though no major damage has been reported. Ranni town remains inundated by runoff from the surrounding hills, with several roads and commercial establishments under water. A landslip at Kanamala Attivalavu on the Sabarimala road has disrupted traffic after soil slid onto the carriageway. The Pampa has breached its banks at Aranmula following a sharp rise in water level, prompting authorities to issue an alert for the palliyodam snake boats participating in the Aranmula Vallasadya rituals.

The Moozhiyar dam remains partially open, while the shutters of the Maniyar dam continue to remain open for maintenance works. The Achankovil river has also overflowed its banks, inundating the road at Attachackal and disrupting traffic.

Fire and Rescue Services personnel have been deployed across the affected areas, and the district administrations are coordinating rescue and relief operations. Three relief camps have been opened at Kozhencherry, Thiruvalla and Aranmula to accommodate displaced families.