Heavy rain triggered flash floods and landslides across Kerala, killing five people and leaving two missing. IMD issued orange alerts for Kottayam and Idukki as more rain is forecast.
Thiruvananthapuram: Heavy rain caused flash floods, landslides and mudslides across Kerala on Sunday, resulting in five deaths and leaving two people missing, according to the latest details reported by India Today. Authorities intensified monitoring and preparedness measures as more rain was forecast across the state.
Chief Minister V D Satheesan directed authorities to assess the situation every hour and asked district administrations to take necessary measures, including evacuation wherever required.
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The IMD forecast heavy rain in parts of Kerala over the next four days and warned of thunderstorms at isolated places.
Orange alert issued in Kottayam and Idukki
The IMD upgraded the weather alert in Kottayam and Idukki from yellow to orange as rainfall intensified.
An orange alert indicates the possibility of very heavy rainfall of 11 cm to 20 cm, while a yellow alert indicates heavy rainfall of 6 cm to 11 cm.
Disaster Management Authority Commissioner Vigneswari IAS reviewed the situation with the collectors of Kottayam and Idukki. SMS alerts were also issued in the two districts, with officials instructed to assess local conditions and take action, including evacuation if necessary.
Flash flood sweeps away group in Malappuram
A flash flood in the Kottapuzha river in the Nilambur-Amarambalam area of Malappuram district swept away a group of five people on Sunday evening.
Police said the group had travelled from Vandoor and entered the river for a bath when the water level suddenly rose.
One person was rescued by a local resident. Fire and rescue personnel recovered two bodies, while the search for two missing people continued.
The Chief Minister ordered the deployment of a special Disaster Management Force team to the area.
Tamil Nadu woman dies in Kottayam landslide
A 35-year-old woman from Chennai died after a landslide near Velathussery on the Erattupetta-Vagamon road in Kottayam district.
The victim was identified as Sangeetha Arul Lal, a resident of Jawahar Nagar in Chennai. Police said she and a friend, also from Tamil Nadu, were returning from Vagamon when the landslide occurred.
Mud fell onto the road and trapped Sangeetha, who was travelling on a scooter. Her friend survived with injuries and was taken to hospital.
Two killed in Idukki mudslide
Two people died after a mudslide struck a shed at Kottakamboor in Idukki district.
The victims had taken shelter from the rain when the mudslide hit the structure. A woman was also injured and taken to hospital.
More rain expected
The weather department has warned that rainfall could intensify again from September 24.
The forecast is linked to a low-pressure area that formed over the North Andaman Sea. The system is expected to intensify into a depression and move towards the coasts of north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha.
There is also a possibility that the system could intensify further into a cyclone. If it develops into a cyclone, it will reportedly be named Arnab, a name contributed by Bangladesh.
The system's development could influence rainfall over Kerala as it intensifies and moves towards the eastern coast.
Yellow alert in three Kerala districts
A yellow alert has been forecast for Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod on September 24, according to the weather information provided.
Authorities are continuing to monitor areas vulnerable to landslides, flooding and sudden rises in water levels.
Kerala's monsoon deficit
The latest IMD data cited by India Today showed that Kerala had recorded a 28 per cent rainfall deficit between June 1 and September 17, indicating that the state's monsoon had been weaker than normal during the period.
The latest spell of heavy rain has nevertheless caused significant localised flooding and landslides, particularly in hilly and river-adjacent areas.
The immediate concern is the combination of heavy rainfall, saturated terrain and sudden rises in river and stream water levels. Sunday's incidents showed how quickly conditions can deteriorate in areas exposed to flash floods and landslides.
The developing weather system over the North Andaman Sea is being closely watched because its movement towards the Andhra Pradesh-Odisha coast could influence rainfall patterns across southern India.
The possible formation of Cyclone Arnab is not yet a certainty. The key factors will be how the low-pressure system develops and the track it follows over the coming days.
For Kerala, the focus remains on rainfall intensity, river levels and landslide-prone areas, with district administrations instructed to monitor conditions and evacuate people where necessary.
Published: 21 Sept 2026, 07:07 am IST
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