Thiruvananthapuram: Heavy rain has triggered flash floods and landslides across Keralam, leaving nine people dead and at least one missing in rain-related incidents over the past 24 hours. Malappuram reported five deaths, while two people each died in Kottayam and Idukki districts.
Rescue operations have intensified in Malappuram after a flash flood swept away people in the Kottapuzha River near TK Colony in the Amarambalam-Nilambur area on Sunday. Five deaths have been confirmed in the incident, while one person remains missing. Three bodies were recovered on Monday as search teams expanded operations along the river and downstream areas.
Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan has directed officials to assess the rain situation across the state on an hourly basis and take precautionary measures, including evacuation wherever required. A special disaster management team has also been deployed to the affected area in Nilambur.
The search operation in Malappuram is being coordinated by the Fire and Rescue Services, police, and disaster management personnel, with support from local residents. Kerala Revenue Minister A.P. Anilkumar and MLA Aryadan Shoukath are overseeing the response at the site. Shoukath said five bodies had been recovered and one woman remained missing.
In Idukki, two people were killed in a landslide at Kottakamboor in Vattavada. Two people were also killed in separate rain-related incidents in Kottayam, including a woman from Tamil Nadu who died after a landslip struck a two-wheeler near Teekoy.
മലപ്പുറം പൂക്കോട്ടുംപാടം ടി.കെ കോളനിയിലുണ്ടായ മിന്നൽ പ്രളയത്തിൽ ജീവൻ പൊലിഞ്ഞവർക്ക് ആദരാഞ്ജലികൾ. രക്ഷാപ്രവർത്തനങ്ങൾ വിലയിരുത്താനും കുടുംബങ്ങളുടെ ദുഃഖത്തിൽ പങ്കുചേരാനുമായി ഉച്ചയ്ക്ക് 2.30-ഓടെ സ്ഥലത്തെത്തും.#VDSatheesan pic.twitter.com/v2hZ1Xgv2l
— V D Satheesan (@vdsatheesan) September 21, 2026
The India Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert for Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram and Palakkad, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall and strong winds of up to 40 kmph in isolated areas. Authorities have urged residents to exercise extreme caution, particularly in hilly regions.
Following the Chief Minister’s directive, Disaster Management Authority Commissioner Vigneswari held an emergency meeting with the District Collectors of Idukki and Kottayam to review the situation. Weather-related SMS alerts have been issued to residents in both districts, while Collectors have been instructed to monitor local conditions and initiate evacuations if necessary.
Authorities have also warned people in coastal areas to remain vigilant as water levels rise and advised against night travel to hilly regions. Control rooms have been opened across the state, while special monitoring arrangements have been established at the taluk level.
Police, Fire and Rescue Services and revenue officials are coordinating relief and rescue operations. Local self-government bodies have been instructed to prepare relief camps in low-lying areas vulnerable to waterlogging. Revenue officials have also been tasked with relocating residents from landslide-prone areas to safer locations.
With heavy rain expected to continue, authorities have imposed a ban on fishing activities and asked the public to follow official weather and disaster-management advisories. The state government is also coordinating with central authorities for additional disaster-response teams if required.
The Kerala State Electricity Board and the irrigation department have been directed to closely monitor dam and reservoir water levels, particularly in view of heavy rainfall in catchment areas.
