Kattappana/Vandiperiyar/Kumily/Nedumkandam: A six-member family, including a two-month-old baby, had a miraculous escape when piles of mud fell over their house at Ayyappankovil in Idukki district. Vellavayil Rajappan's house was damaged in the mudslide. The incident happened at around 7 am following heavy rain on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Kochupalam locality near Ayyappankovil is submerged after the water level rose in Idukki dam.

Vandiperiyar road turns into river

The non-stop rain since Saturday resulted in water from ponds flooding the road, bringing traffic to a complete halt. On the Kottayam-Kumily route, vehicles had to be halted at Periyar. On National Highway 183, the one kilometre stretch from Churakkulam junction to Nellimala junction is swamped by four-feet water.

By Sunday night, the water level went up and big vehicles too stopped plying. The road now resembles a lake. Those travelling from far away were particularly affected. Lorries carrying milk, cement and vegetables are stuck. Rising water level has also affected those living on wastelands; they are unable to sleep at night and prepare food since days.

Though traffic has come to a standstill on Vandiperiyar NH 183, doctors, staff nurses and others turned up for duty at Vandiperiyar primary health centre through tea plantations. Even the health centre was marooned.

Periyar colony flooded

The Periyar colony near the panchayat office was engulfed in flash floods. Nearly 35 houses in the area were affected. Water entered 12 houses. Since the entire area is flooded by dirty water, forest and revenue department officials are distributing food to those affected.

Set up in 1982, the Periyar colony was affected in 1989 too. The water level had gone up then due to the landside at Attappallam Pathumury area. The water from Amaravathy, Attappallam and Murukkadi flows through a pond near the colony. The pond empties out into the canal that carries water from Mullaperiyar dam to Tamil Nadu. To stop waste from the pond entering the canal, the Tamil Nadu government has installed iron gates. The gates broke at 10 am, flooding the colony.

River breaks banks

Following days of incessant rains, the Periyar river is overflowing. Water has entered houses, shops, farms and damaged crops. Sri Dharmashastha temple at Chappath has been submerged. The footpath to the MP bridge on the Periyar is submerged, blocking access to people.

Traffic to Kozhimala and Ayyappankovil temple has come to a standstill. People now use the hanging bridge to cross over. A mudslide at Pashuppara on Upputhara-Vagamon-Thodupuzha route blocked traffic for about three hours. It was villagers who removed the mud to clear way for the traffic. The house of Pullumettil Palakkamannil Paulose was also damaged in flash floods. A part of Akkattutharayil Mohanan's house was damaged in the mudslide.

Houses damaged

Seven houses were completely destroyed in heavy rains in Udumbanchola taluk. Hundreds of people had gathered near the dam to see the Kallar dam being opened. Nedumkandam Illikanath Gayatrinivas Udayakumar's house is in a precarious condition after mudslide behind the building. A wall of Chakkakanam Nedumparambil Johnson's house collapsed. A team led by village officers visited the spots and sent reports to the tahsildar.

Water also entered houses and shops at Thookkupalam town when the adjacent river started overflowing. There was water logging in the Horticorp outlet that functions at the Nedumkandam panchayat stadium.

More rain havoc pictures from Idukki: