TNSTC driver killed as rain triggers 19 landslips in Nilgiris; ghat roads shut, later restored

Heavy overnight rain across the Nilgiris and Coimbatore districts triggered multiple landslips, uprooted trees and damaged houses and vehicles, disrupting traffic on key hill roads. A driver of a Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) bus was killed when a landslip struck the vehicle at Burliyar in the Nilgiris.

Burliyar recorded 250 mm of rainfall in the 24 hours ending at 7 a.m. on Saturday, the highest in the district, followed by Kil Kotagiri with 200 mm. In Coimbatore district, Mettupalayam recorded the highest rainfall at 145 mm in the 24 hours ending at 7.30 a.m. on Saturday.

The Nilgiris received a cumulative 2,152.6 mm of rain across 31 rain gauge stations, a district average of 69.44 mm. Coimbatore recorded 672.80 mm across 23 stations, with an average of 29.25 mm.

According to district officials, the Nilgiris recorded 19 landslips and 18 incidents of fallen trees during the 24-hour period. Four huts suffered partial damage. No crop loss or damage to the electricity network was reported.

Traffic on the Udhagamandalam–Coonoor–Mettupalayam road was suspended from 11 p.m. on Friday as a precaution against landslips and falling trees. Several stretches between Coonoor and Burliyar were affected, with debris and trees blocking the road at multiple locations. Around 15 spots between Mettupalayam and Burliyar were reported to have been hit by landslips and uprooted trees.

The Udhagamandalam–Kotagiri–Mettupalayam road was also blocked at around 15 locations. Small vehicles were allowed from 5 a.m. on Saturday, and traffic was fully restored around 11 a.m. after the Revenue and Highways departments cleared the debris.

Traffic was also suspended on the alternative route to Udhagamandalam via Karamadai, Kethai and Manjoor following rockfalls. These ghat stretches are known to be vulnerable to landslips during spells of heavy rain, and authorities close them when the risk of falling trees and debris rises.

At Theettukal near Udhagamandalam, a 65-year-old security guard, Venkatesan, was rescued after a retaining wall at a private resort collapsed on Saturday. The wall, about 20 feet high, came down following the heavy rain and trapped him under the debris. Personnel from the Fire and Rescue Services rushed to the spot and rescued him safely. Two cars parked nearby were completely damaged in the incident.

In Kottakkambai near Kotagiri, four houses were reported to be in danger of collapse following the rain.

In Mettupalayam taluk, four large trees, five small trees and branches of two other trees were brought down. All the fallen trees were cleared. Two houses in Chikkadasampalayam and Karamadai suffered partial damage, and relief of ₹6,500 each has been earmarked for the affected households, totalling ₹13,000.

The district administrations and the departments concerned are coordinating response and restoration work in the rain-affected areas. The Nilgiris and parts of Coimbatore typically record intense spells in October, at the onset of the northeast monsoon, and landslides along the ghat roads are a recurring hazard during this period. Officials have urged residents and travellers to check road conditions before setting out on hill routes and to report fallen trees or blocked stretches to the local authorities.