As rain continues unabated in Kerala, Chief Minister V D Satheesan has directed the Collectors of Idukki, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts to gear up for any kind of emergency situation. The Chief Minister has entrusted each minister with the responsibility of coordinating rescue operations in a district.

C P John (Thiruvananthapuram), P C Vishnunath (Pathanamthitta), Mons Joseph (Kottayam) and Anoop Jacob (Idukki) will camp in respective districts. Revenue Minister will coordinate operations at the state level. V D Satheesan also spoke to the MLAs and assessed the situation. 

Heavy rain continued to batter large parts of Kerala, particularly the central districts, early on Saturday, triggering landslides, flooding and widespread waterlogging. A red alert has been declared in nine districts. The IMD has predicted extreme rainfall in Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, Kasaragod, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, and Thrissur. Ranni town was completely flooded in the heavy showers.

A woman was killed after a landslide triggered by incessant rain buried a house at Adurmala in Kudayathoor, near Thodupuzha, in Idukki district. The deceased was identified as Sumathi, a resident of Mashikkallel House in Ward 7 of Kudayathoor.

Her body was recovered around 7 am after an extensive search operation that began in the early hours of Saturday. Her husband, Ravi, and their son, Ratheesh, sustained injuries and were rescued from the debris. The landslide struck around 2 am, completely burying and destroying the family's house.

In a second incident, Prabhakaran Nair (72), a native of Vaikom, was killed after a huge mass of earth crashed through the window of the room where he was sleeping at his relative's house, Pournami Nivas, in Kolahalamedu, Vagamon. Prabhakaran, uncle of the house owner Leelamani, had arrived at the house only a day earlier. His room was completely buried under mud and debris, while Leelamani, who was in an adjacent room, escaped unhurt.

Fire and Rescue Services personnel, police, and local residents carried out a rescue operation for several hours before recovering the body at around 10.30 am. An earthmover was used to remove part of the house and clear the debris. Vagamon police have initiated further proceedings, and the body will be handed over to the family after the post-mortem examination.

Meanwhile, a youth, identified as Joseph Johnny and his mother, Regina Johnny, died in a landslide that occurred at Poonjar around 3 am.

In Wayanad, a farmer was found dead near a pond on his farmland at Manjoora near Kalpetta on Saturday morning in what is suspected to be a case of electrocution while operating a water pump. The deceased was identified as Mankott Benny, 57, son of Devasya and the late Eliyamma, a native of Manjoora.

Benny had left his house early in the morning to switch on a water pump installed near the pond to irrigate his farmland. When he did not return even after a considerable time, his wife, Molly, went in search of him. She found him lying motionless on the ground near the pump house. She immediately alerted neighbours and relatives, who rushed to the spot and shifted Benny to Fathima Hospital, Kalpetta. However, doctors declared him 'brought dead'.

Benny is survived by his wife, Molly, and two sons, Albin and Melbin, both of whom are employed in the United Kingdom.

In Malappuram, a four-year-old boy died after he fell into a stream.

At Mathayippara in Upputhara, another landslide hit a police jeep. Fortunately, the police personnel had stepped out of the vehicle moments earlier and escaped unhurt.

Two minor landslides were also reported at Nellappara in Karinkunnam, though no casualties were reported.

In Kottayam district, a landslide occurred near the Mankombu Temple area in Moonnilavu.

In Pathanamthitta district, landslides were reported from several hilly areas as heavy rain continued through the night.

In Thrissur, authorities have been instructed to immediately install clearly visible warning signs, safety boards and reflectors at locations where construction or maintenance work is underway on national highways, state highways and other district roads. Advertisement boards and flex banners that may collapse due to strong winds must be reinforced or removed on a war footing. Local self-government institutions and the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) have been instructed to urgently remove dangerous trees and overhanging branches posing a threat along roads and in public places.

Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea. The Fisheries Department and the Coast Guard have been directed to issue warnings in coastal areas and continuously monitor the situation. The Thrissur District Emergency Operations Centre will function round the clock with the immediate inclusion of a representative from the Road Safety Department. The order also warns that strict legal action will be taken under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 against anyone violating the directives.

Holiday for educational institutions
In view of the inclement weather, district collectors of Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Malappuram, Palakkad and Idukki declared a holiday for all educational institutions on Saturday.

The holiday applies to schools, professional colleges, anganwadis, tuition centres, coaching centres, special classes and madrassas. However, examinations and interviews scheduled earlier will be held as planned.

Orange alert in five districts
The IMD has issued an orange alert for Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, and Palakkad with a warning of very heavy rainfall between 12 cm and 20 cm within 24 hours.

Flooding and waterlogging
Heavy rain triggered flooding and waterlogging across several districts, with Idukki, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta among the worst affected.

In Kottayam, the Mundakkayam Causeway Bridge was submerged after water levels rose sharply. Erattupetta town was inundated after the Meenachil River overflowed its banks. Several stretches of the Pala-Poonjar Road also went under water, disrupting traffic.

In Pathanamthitta, rainwater flooded the Ittiyappara bus stand in Ranni as heavy rain continued overnight.

In Idukki, overflowing streams and rivers inundated roads and residential areas at multiple locations. At Vandiperiyar, streams overflowed and water entered sections of the KK Road, though traffic remained unaffected.

In Adimali, floodwater submerged roads from Colony Mookku to Deviyar Colony, creating a dangerous situation for residents. Several houses were flooded. Water levels also rose sharply in the Chottupara stream at Vandiperiyar, while parts of National Highway 183 were submerged. A roadblock was also reported near Nellimala.

Several areas of Thodupuzha town remained waterlogged after continuous rainfall that began on Thursday evening. At Challavayal near Muttom, the overflowing Parappan Thodu inundated residential areas, trapping residents inside their homes. Flooding was also reported at Makkil Colony, Thottunkara and Kathara Colony in the Thodanganad-Challavayal region. Water flowed over the Edappally-Oorakkunnu bridge at Muttom.

River levels cross warning marks
Water levels in major rivers continued to rise due to incessant rainfall.

The Muvattupuzha River has crossed the warning level, while the Thodupuzha River has crossed the danger mark, prompting authorities to remain on high alert.

Malankara dam shutters to be raised further; alert issued for residents
The shutters of the Malankara Dam will be raised further after a sharp surge in inflow triggered by the landslide that struck Adurmala in the dam's catchment area early Friday morning.

Officials said the four shutters, currently open by 1.50 metres, will be raised in phases to 2.50 metres to safely release the excess water entering the reservoir.

The water level in the dam stood at 40.80 metres at 6.00 am on Saturday. Authorities said heavy runoff from the surrounding hills has led to a steep increase in inflow, making it necessary to step up the discharge to maintain the safety of the reservoir.

The increased release is expected to raise water levels in the Thodupuzha and Muvattupuzha rivers, both of which have already crossed the warning level. Flooding has been reported from low-lying areas and along the banks of the Thodupuzha River.

The district administration has asked people living along the banks of the Thodupuzha and Muvattupuzha rivers and those in low-lying areas to remain on high alert as water levels are likely to rise further.

Meanwhile, officials announced that the shutters of the Pambla Dam will also be opened from 10.00 am, releasing an additional 500 cumecs of water. The total discharge from the dam will consequently increase to 1,000 cumecs.

Authorities have urged residents to stay away from rivers and flooded areas, remain alert to official warnings and be prepared to move to safer locations if instructed by the administration.

Traffic disrupted by landslides
Traffic was disrupted on several major roads in Idukki following landslides. The Moolamattom-Vagamon Road was blocked after a landslide at Chelikkal Kavala near Elappally. The Vagamon-Ettumanoor and Vagamon-Upputhara roads were also closed due to landslides.

Another roadblock was reported on the Kattappana-Vazhavara Road after a landslip.