Severe overnight rainfall wreaked havoc across Kerala’s Idukki district, triggering multiple landslides, flash floods, and large-scale damage to roads and farmland. The worst-hit area was Kunthalampara in Kattappana, where a massive landslide struck around 1:30 am on Saturday, sending torrents of mud, rocks, and debris cascading into nearby settlements. The same locality had previously suffered a deadly landslide in 2019. Fortunately, no casualties were reported this time, though several roads were destroyed and farmlands completely washed away. Residents said they heard a loud noise before a rush of mountain water engulfed the area.

The relentless downpour also affected other regions, including Nedumkandam and Kuttar, where vehicles—among them a traveller van—were swept away by gushing mountain streams. Local authorities confirmed suspected mudslides at multiple points in Idukki’s hilly terrain, especially around Peerumade and Udumbanchola taluks. Several houses in Kumily and Balagram were inundated after nearby streams overflowed, forcing rescue teams to evacuate stranded families. District officials said 42 families had been moved to relief camps as continuous rainfall hampered restoration work.

Rising water levels in key reservoirs prompted authorities to release excess water from several dams. The Kallar dam shutters were lifted to full capacity, while Tamil Nadu opened three radial shutters of the Mullaperiyar dam after water levels breached the rule curve limit, releasing over 1,000 cusecs into the Periyar river. The Idukki reservoir, too, recorded a steady rise, with levels approaching the upper rule limit. The district administration has urged residents in low-lying and landslide-prone zones to remain vigilant, as the India Meteorological Department warned that heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to continue through the weekend.