Malappuram: Two people have died and several others remain missing following a sudden flash flood in Malappuram district on Sunday afternoon.

The tragedy occurred at around 5:00 pm local time at the Kottappuzha river in Pookkottumpadam, near Chokkad in Nilambur. The site, TK Nagar, is a popular local spot that was crowded with visitors taking advantage of the weekend to go sightseeing and bathe in the river.

Eyewitnesses reported that a wall of water swept down the river without warning, catching tourists off guard and washing away five individuals. Emergency services, led by the Kerala Fire and Rescue Services, launched a large-scale search and rescue operation that continued late into the night.

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Local officials noted that a far greater disaster was averted thanks to prompt action by forest department officers and local residents, who noticed the river rising at an alarming rate and raised the alarm, allowing many to scramble to safety.

Search teams subsequently recovered two bodies downstream. One victim was retrieved from the Pottikkallu Muttikkund area, whilst the second was found near Antonikkadu Ayanikkund. According to authorities, both bodies sustained severe injuries after being battered against riverbed rocks.

The missing individuals have been identified as Raheem, 35, from Karuvarakundu; Anas Mangadan, 27, a bus operator from Kottakkal; an unidentified elderly companion; Sajad, 23, from Wandoor; Rafeeq Kuruppath, 41, from Chettiyarammal, Wandoor; and Sajitha, wife of Sanjay Das, from TK Colony.

Among a separate six-member group from Chokkad caught in the surge, two managed to swim to shore, while local residents successfully rescued the remaining four trapped in the torrent.

Six others narrowly escaped with their lives. Senior officials are coordinating emergency efforts on the ground, led by Nilambur Deputy Superintendent of Police Rafeeq, Sub-Inspectors V. Manoj Kumar and Abdul Kareem, and Chakkikuzhi Deputy Range Forest Officer Divakaranunni. Panchayat President V.P. Afeefa and local council members have also arrived at the scene to oversee relief work as the search operation carries on through the night.