Published Aug 01, 2026 | 11:02 AM ⚊ Updated Aug 01, 2026 | 1:39 PM
Heavy waterlogging in Aranmula, Pathanamthitta, prompts authorities to step up emergency response measures.
Synopsis: Many places in Kerala are bearing the brunt. Idukki, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta are the worst hit. In Beypore, seventeen fishermen had to be rescued. The Chief Minister has convened a meeting of all district collectors.
Kerala’s southwest monsoon, sluggish for some time now, turned increasingly destructive on Friday night and Saturday morning, leaving a trail of death, isolation and widespread devastation across the state’s high ranges and river basins. Nine districts in the state were placed under red alert.
Overnight rain unleashed debris flows, flash floods, and swollen rivers that buried houses, snapped road links, and forced hundreds of families to move to safer locations, with the worst impact reported in Idukki, Kottayam, and Pathanamthitta districts.
At least four people lost their lives in rain-related incidents, one person remained missing, and rescue teams continued operations in several locations despite incessant rain.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) intensified its rain warning, placing nine districts under a red alert and five districts under an orange alert on Saturday.
The latest update marks a significant escalation from the previous forecast, under which eight districts were on red alert and three on orange alert.
According to the IMD, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Thrissur, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod are under a red alert on August 1, indicating the likelihood of extremely heavy rainfall exceeding 204.4 mm within 24 hours.
An orange alert, signalling the possibility of very heavy rainfall between 115.6 mm and 204.4 mm in 24 hours, has been issued for Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam and Palakkad.
The IMD cautioned that the expected intense spells of rain could trigger flash floods, waterlogging in urban and low-lying areas, and landslides in vulnerable hilly regions.
With heavy rain likely to occur over short durations, authorities have urged the public and government agencies to remain on high alert and take necessary precautionary measures.
Educational institutions remained closed in Kottayam, Idukki, Pathanamthitta, Wayanad, Malappuram, Alappuzha, Kozhikode and Palakkad districts.
#weatherupdate: Red alert declared in Pathanamthitta, kottayam, Idukki, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod
Orange alert declared in Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad
Yellow alert declared in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Alappuzha
Stay alert!
1/8/2026 : 7 AM pic.twitter.com/JH57ezDw5w
— Kerala Government | കേരള സർക്കാർ (@iprdkerala) August 1, 2026
The worst tragedy unfolded in Idukki district, where debris flows struck vulnerable hillside settlements.
At Adoormalai in Kudayathur near Thodupuzha, Sumathi of Mashikallel house in Ward 7 was killed after a massive debris flow engulfed her home. The house was buried under tonnes of earth and slush. Her son Ratheesh was pulled out with injuries by residents, while two others were also rescued from the site.
Another fatality was reported from Kolahalamedu near Vagamon after debris swept onto the house of Leelamani. Prabhakaran Nair (72), a native of Vaikom and a relative staying at the house, was found dead beneath the rubble.
Rescue personnel continued searching for anyone still trapped.
In neighbouring Kottayam district, 24-year-old Josephnine Johnny of Manakattu house at Payyanithottam near Poonjar died after his house collapsed under the impact of a debris flow. His body was recovered from beneath the collapsed structure. The body of His mother, Rejina Johnny, who went missing, was recovered later.
Josephnine Johnny and Rejina Johnny died after their house collapsed under the impact of a debris flow in Kottayam district.
Fresh debris flows were also reported from Chemmannu in Idukki, where one person was trapped after a hill gave way onto a house. Another house in Kolahalamedu was hit in a similar incident.
A police jeep narrowly escaped disaster at Upputhara after officers got out of the vehicle moments before a debris flow crashed onto the road.
Relentless rain disrupted normal life across central Kerala.
The Erattupetta-Vagamon road was blocked by debris, while flooding affected traffic along the Kottayam-Kumily Road. Kokkayar Chappath went underwater, cutting off connectivity to several interior areas.
In eastern Kottayam, a major debris flow at Munnilavu swept away the house of Rajesh, a driver attached to the KSRTC Pala depot. Minor debris flows were reported from several parts of Meenachil and Kanjirappally taluks, including Kodunga in Kootickal panchayat.
Floodwaters submerged Kootickal town, Mundakkayam Kove, Erattupetta town and low-lying areas such as Nadakkal and Murikkoli, forcing residents to move to safer places.
The Kottayam district administration opened six relief camps to accommodate displaced families. The camps are functioning at JJ Murphy Memorial School, Anthiyalam; CMS LP School, Kootickal; Shankar Memorial School, Elamkad; Thushara Club, Perunthenam; CMS LP School, Mundakkayam; and St Joseph’s High School, Puthenchanta, Mundakkayam.
District Collector Chethan Kumar Meena urged people living along the Manimala and Meenachil rivers, as well as those in landslide-prone areas, to remain on high alert and shift to safer places whenever instructed by authorities. Police, Fire and Rescue Services and local self-government institutions have been coordinating evacuations under the supervision of the respective tahsildars.
Pathanamthitta witnessed one of the season’s worst floods after torrential overnight rain caused rivers to swell rapidly.
The Pamba, Achankovil, Manimala, Kallar and Kakkattar rivers overflowed, inundating residential areas in Ranni and Konni taluks. Water entered homes, public institutions and commercial establishments, while several roads became impassable.
Vadasserikkara and Athikayam in Ranni taluk were cut off by floodwaters. The Ranni bus stand also went underwater as river levels rose sharply through the night.
Officials believe a debris flow inside the forest triggered the sudden rise in river levels. A debris flow has been confirmed at Thumbakulam in Konni taluk, and authorities suspect it caused a surge in the Kallar and Kakkattar rivers, resulting in a sharp increase in the water level of Pamba between midnight and dawn.
Although extensive damage was reported to houses and infrastructure, no casualties or injuries have been reported from the district so far.
An NDRF team has been deployed to carry out rescue and relief operations in the flood-hit areas. A 24-hour control room has also been opened at the District Police Headquarters to coordinate emergency response.
The district administration has also imposed strict restrictions on activities in rivers and other water bodies following heavy rain warnings and the possibility of water being released from dams.
The administration has barred people from crossing rivers, bathing, or entering rivers and other water bodies for any purpose until the heavy rain warning is withdrawn. The Pamba River and other rivers in the district have also been closed to the public.
The operation and use of boats, country boats and ferries have been banned, except for rescue operations. The administration also prohibited the use of river bathing ghats, including those used by Sabarimala pilgrims, citing the risk of a sudden rise in water levels due to heavy rainfall and possible dam releases.
The restrictions will remain in force until the heavy rain warning is lifted.
Heavy overnight rain caused severe flooding in the Aranmula region of Pathanamthitta, with the Pampa River overflowing and flooding several low-lying areas.
Speaking to South First, Aranmula MLA Abin Varkey said rescue operations are underway with the support of the district administration, emergency team and residents.
“The Pampa River is overflowing, and rescue operations are progressing with the help of the administration and local volunteers. People stranded in flooded areas are being shifted to safer places. Special attention is being given to those living alone, especially elderly residents,” he said.
The MLA said small boats belonging to the Aranmula temple Palliyoda Sangham are being used for rescue operations. He said that devotees attending the ongoing Aranmula temple festival are safe.
“The festival is currently underway, and many devotees are in the area. We have ensured that they are safe,” he added.
Abin Varkey also blamed the worsening flood situation on the failure to remove debris from the Pampa River after the 2019 floods. “The debris deposited in the river after the 2019 floods has not been cleared. That is one of the reasons the region is facing severe flooding again,” he said.
Several areas along the banks of the Pampa River, including Kozhencherry, Aranmula, Mallappuzhassery and Melukara, are witnessing major disruptions due to rising water levels.
These regions were among the worst affected during the devastating 2019 floods as well.
Even as the state battled heavy rain inland, rough seas triggered another rescue operation off the Kozhikode coast.
17 fishermen were rescued after their fishing boat developed engine trouble and drifted at sea west of Kadalundi Kapalangadi. The fishermen, who had set out from Beypore harbour, were brought ashore in a joint operation by the Coastal Police and residents.
Those who sustained minor injuries were shifted to Farook Chanda Hospital for treatment. Officials said none of the injuries was serious.
Across the state, Fire and Rescue Services, police, the NDRF and local volunteers remained engaged in rescue, evacuation and relief work as heavy rain continued to lash Kerala, with authorities warning that the situation could worsen if the downpour persists.
The State Irrigation Department has issued orange and yellow alerts for several rivers across Kerala following the sharp rise in water levels due to heavy rainfall.
Residents living along riverbanks have been urged to remain vigilant and follow the instructions of local authorities.
An orange alert has been issued for the Muvattupuzha river at the Thodupuzha station in Ernakulam district; the Kallada river at the Punalur station in Kollam; the Meenachil river at the Pala station and the Manimala river at the Manimala station in Kottayam; and the Pamba river at the Kurudamannil station and the Achankovil river at the Kalleli station in Pathanamthitta.
A yellow alert has also been issued for the Muvattupuzha river at the Kakkadassery station in Ernakulam.
The department has warned the public not to enter or attempt to cross any of the rivers under alert, under any circumstances.
People living in low-lying and flood-prone areas along the riverbanks have been advised to stay alert and be prepared to move to safer locations if directed by the authorities.
Meanwhile, the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) issued special instructions to the Tourism Department and District Tourism Promotion Councils (DTPCs) in view of the red alert in many districts and the forecast of heavy rainfall across parts of the state.
According to the advisory, access to waterfalls and other water-based tourist destinations should be restricted in districts under red and orange alerts, as well as in neighbouring districts experiencing widespread rain.
The restrictions are to remain in force until the weather warnings are withdrawn.
The authority has also directed officials to impose restrictions in hilly regions vulnerable to landslides and mudslides until weather conditions improve.
Safety and warning boards should be installed on roads leading to such destinations, and travel restrictions should be enforced wherever there is a risk of landslides.
The advisory stresses that weather warnings and safety information must reach tourists visiting Kerala from other states and abroad.
Authorities have also been asked to widely publicise emergency contact numbers for tourists who may meet with accidents or become stranded due to the adverse weather.
The KSDMA has instructed the Tourism Department to set up 24×7 special control rooms that will remain operational until the weather warnings are lifted.
It has also directed officials to publicise restrictions at tourist destinations through the media and social media and ensure that details of the restrictions are shared with the control rooms of the police, disaster management and fire and rescue services for coordinated action.
Amid the continuing heavy rain and reports of landslides and mudslides in parts of Kerala, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said the Chief Minister held phone discussions with the Revenue Minister, the Chief Secretary and District Collectors to review the situation.
According to the CMO, the Revenue Minister will coordinate disaster prevention activities and has convened a meeting of District Collectors at 11 am. The CMO said the NDRF, police and other agencies are on alert and prepared to handle any emergency.
The government has also decided to ensure better treatment for those injured and expedite rehabilitation measures, the CMO added.
Pathanamthitta district administration opened control rooms with the following numbers:
04682 322515
+91 80788 08915
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Taluk-level control rooms also opened (Pathanamthitta)
Kozhanchery – 0468 2222221
Mallapally – 0469 2682293
Adoor – 04734 224826
Ranni – 04735 227442
Thiruvalla – 0469 2601303
Konni – 0468 2240087
Also Read: How an Assam woman’s escape led police to an alleged infant trafficking syndicate in Kerala
(Edited by R Rajesh Kumar.)
