Published Oct 24, 2026 | 10:32 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 24, 2026 | 10:32 AM
A bus is seen tilted off a rain-soaked road, its front and roof damaged following a landslide in Burliar, near Coonoor.
Synopsis: Heavy rainfall has triggered landslips, damaged roads and disrupted transport across Tamil Nadu, particularly in the Nilgiris and Kodaikanal. A 17-year-old girl died after a house wall collapsed in Virudhunagar district, while flooding affected a government bus depot. With a Bay of Bengal weather system expected to intensify into a cyclone by October 26, further rain raises concerns over flooding and landslips across vulnerable regions.
Heavy rainfall across many parts of Tamil Nadu has disrupted transport, inundated low-lying areas and triggered landslips in several hill regions.
The Nilgiris and Kodaikanal have reported significant damage, while a 17-year-old schoolgirl died after a house wall collapsed in Virudhunagar district on Thursday night.
The Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Agency’s rainfall report dated October 24 recorded 250 mm of rain at Burliar in Coonoor taluk. Kil Kotagiri Estate received 200 mm, Alakarai Estate 161 mm and Kotagiri 137 mm, highlighting the intensity of rainfall in the Nilgiris.
Heavy rain triggered a landslide in the Burliar area, affecting a government bus travelling from Coonoor to Coimbatore. Rescue operations were underway to assist passengers trapped inside the vehicle, according to initial reports.
The landslide disrupted traffic on the Mettupalayam–Ooty road, with debris blocking the route. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway service was also cancelled following the landslide, while clearing and restoration work was taken up. Schools in six taluks of the Nilgiris were declared closed amid the heavy rainfall.
Continuous rainfall over the past two days has caused landslips, road damage and fallen trees in Kodaikanal and surrounding hill areas in Dindigul district.
Trees fell across roads in Udville Road, Shenbaganur and Tiger Shola, affecting traffic. Damage to electric poles resulted in power cuts in parts of Kodaikanal, Thandikudi and the Upper Palani Hills.
Water flow at Silver Cascade Falls increased, with floodwater crossing a bridge and disrupting traffic. Vehicles and buses travelling towards Kodaikanal were reportedly stranded for nearly two hours on Friday.
Police have advised tourists to avoid travelling to Kodaikanal and Thandikudi for the next two days because of continuing rain and the risk of further landslips.
A 17-year-old Class 12 student, identified as Muthuselvi, died on Friday morning after a wall in her family’s rented house collapsed at Mettamalai near Sattur in Virudhunagar district on Thursday night.
The collapse occurred at around 11 pm while the family was asleep, following heavy rainfall in the area. Muthuselvi was trapped under the debris and sustained severe injuries. Her mother, Solaiammal, suffered a leg fracture and was admitted to Sattur Government Hospital.
Sattur Town police have registered a case and are investigating.
A weather warning published on October 24 highlighted the risk of heavy rainfall and landslips in the Nilgiris, Kodaikanal and Manjolai Hills over the coming days.
Travellers were advised to avoid non-essential journeys to vulnerable hill areas while heavy rain persists.
The well-marked low-pressure area over the east-central Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a depression on October 24, a deep depression on October 25 and a cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal by the morning of October 26, according to the India Meteorological Department’s observations at 5:30 am on Saturday.
The system is expected to move west-northwestwards and intensify further as it approaches the Andhra Pradesh coast around the morning of October 28.
Although the forecast points towards the cyclone landing in north Andhra Pradesh and adjoining south Odisha coasts, Tamil Nadu remains vulnerable to further heavy rainfall amid the ongoing northeast monsoon, particularly in hill districts already affected by landslips and road damage.
(Edited by R Rajesh Kumar.)
