Kerala rain: Mudslide in Munnar disrupts traffic on NH, orange alert in 3 districts today

A major landslip on the Kochi-Dhanushkodi National Highway on Sunday morning totally disrupted traffic along the stretch. A portion of the earth caved in at the same spot where a landslip occurred on Saturday night. A lorry driver, Ganeshan, died, and a helper, Murukan, was injured when the vehicle got trapped under the debris on Saturday. Authorities have said that it will take a minimum of two days to clear the debris and restore traffic along the stretch. Heavy rain accompanied by strong surface winds wreaked havoc in various parts of Kerala. The death toll in rain-related incidents touched five on Saturday. On Sunday morning, a farmer in Palakkad died after coming into contact with a broken power line. The deceased is Marimuthu (72), a native of Olassery.

According to family members, the man went to the adjacent farm in the morning to pick coconuts and was found dead there later, police said. An electric line, attached to the pumphouse in the place, was found broken, and the man was suspected to have met with the tragedy after coming into contact with it, they said.

Meanwhile, a fisherman went missing at the Meetna River bund in Ottapalam, Palakkad, on Sunday morning. Fire and Rescue personnel have launched a search operation for the man, identified as Yusuf, a native of Ottapalam. 

Holiday for educational institutions in Kuttanad Taluk
Heavy rainfall in Pathanamthitta and Kottayam districts has led to increased inflow from the east, causing widespread waterlogging in schools and public roads across Kuttanad Taluk. In view of the situation, the Alappuzha District Collector has declared a holiday for all educational institutions in the taluk on Monday, including professional colleges, anganwadis, and tuition centres. Scheduled examinations, however, will be conducted as planned.

IMD alerts
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has revised its rain forecast for the state on Sunday noon and sounded an orange alert for Idukki, Kannur and Kasaragod districts. 

A yellow alert is sounded for Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode and Wayanad. Meanwhile, the Met Department has withdrawn the yellow alert sounded for Malappuram and Palakkad districts. 

Isolated areas in the state have been battered by heavy downpours since Thursday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that heavy rainfall will continue in Kerala until July 30 under the influence of a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal. A high alert has been issued for hilly regions and coastal areas due to adverse weather conditions.

“Strong surface winds with speeds reaching 50–60 kmph are likely to prevail occasionally over Kerala and Lakshadweep on 26th and 27th July 2025, and winds with speeds reaching 40–50 kmph are likely to prevail occasionally over Kerala and Lakshadweep from 28th to 29th July 2025. Heavy rainfall (7 cm to 11 cm in 24 hours) to very heavy rainfall (12 cm to 20 cm in 24 hours) is very likely to occur at one or two places in Kerala on 26th July 2025. Heavy rainfall (7 cm to 11 cm in 24 hours) is also very likely at one or two places in Kerala from 27th to 30th July 2025,” reads the IMD alert.

Sea incursion in Thrissur
In Thrissur district, heavy tides and severe sea erosion have inundated many houses along the Vadanappally beach. Flooding caused by rain and sea incursions uprooted several coconut trees and other vegetation. The seawall road has also been destroyed.

The stretch from Vadanappally beach to Pokkanchery beach is the worst affected, leaving many houses flooded. Vadakkan Kunjayyappakkutty's house was severely damaged, forcing the family to relocate to a safer location. Residents fear that if sea erosion intensifies, more homes may collapse.

Since Saturday morning, heavy rain and strong winds have worsened the situation. Although local authorities offered to relocate families to relief camps, residents declined, choosing instead to remain in their homes.

Relief camps opened in Wayanad, Kozhikode
In Mananthavadi, Wayanad, revenue authorities relocated eight families to relief camps after the water level in the river originating from Makkimala rose alarmingly at Thalappuzha. The settlement was cut off from the rest of the areas by Saturday evening as rain intensified.

At Kappikkalam, an embankment at the rear of a house caved in, damaging part of the house owned by Shylaja Thankappan. She and her family members were shifted to safer locations. According to ward member Shabitha, families were shifted from the spot on a warfoot basis. 

"The gushing water carried rock, slush, and uprooted trees. That hints at a mild landslide in the Makkimala hills," she said.

In Kozhikode's Koyilandy taluk, a relief camp was opened at Kothamangalam Govt. LP School after houses were inundated at Kuttinilam. Nine people of three families are currently housed here. 

 In Aralam, Kannur, the overflowing Bavali River inundated over 36 houses. Several families were relocated to relief camps.

Trees uprooted, death toll likely to go up
Widespread damage has been reported, with uprooted trees falling on houses, vehicles, and roads. Traffic was disrupted in many areas, and power outages were also reported. Mudslides were reported at Makkimala, Aralam, and some other hilly areas of the state. In Ernakulam and Alappuzha, many houses were flooded as incessant rains continued. Two relief camps were opened in Ernakulam.

Wayanad, Kannur, and Kozhikode districts reported widespread damage due to strong winds and mudslides. In Kuttiyadi, Wayanad, a huge tree fell on a car and a truck on Sunday morning. In Kozhikode's Vilanagad and Thamarassery, traffic was disrupted as uprooted trees fell across the roads.

On Sunday morning, a farmer in Palakkad died after coming into contact with a broken power line.

Speaking to Manorama News, Revenue Minister K Rajan said that the incessant rainfall is expected to decrease by Monday, as the low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal has begun to weaken. He stated that compensation would be provided to every person affected by the heavy rain. He also noted that 163 houses were completely destroyed due to the recent rainfall and strong winds in the state. 

The minister appealed to the public to cut trees that are posing a threat to infrastructure, as strong winds are expected to continue in the state.

Flood warning sounded 
With rivers overflowing, most dams — including Sholayar and Kakkayam — have been opened. An orange alert is sounded for several rivers, including Manimala and Pampa in Pathanamthitta, Vamanapuram in Thiruvananthapuram, Pallikkal in Kollam, Achankovil in Alappuzha, Thodupuzha in Idukki, Chalakudy in Thrissur, Valapattanam in Kannur and Kabani river in Wayanad. Residents living along riverbanks have been advised to stay alert and relocate to safer locations as directed by local government officials.