Thiruvananthapuram: Heavy rain in Keralam triggered landslides, mudslides and flash floods on Sunday, killing five people and leaving two missing.
With more rain forecast over the next four days, Chief Minister VD Satheesan ordered hourly assessments of the situation and directed authorities to take evacuation measures where necessary.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for Kottayam and Idukki, upgraded from yellow, and warned of isolated thunderstorms from September 20 to 21.
An orange alert indicates very heavy rainfall of 11-20 cm, while a yellow alert covers 6-11 cm.
Disaster Management Authority Commissioner Vigneswari IAS reviewed the situation with the Idukki and Kottayam collectors following the Chief Minister’s direction. SMS alerts were issued in both districts.
In Malappuram’s Nilambur-Amarambalam area, five people from Vandoor were swept away while bathing in the Kottapuzha River after a sudden rise in water.
Two died, two remained missing and one was rescued by a local resident. Fire and Rescue personnel recovered two bodies.
In Kottayam, Sangeetha Arul Lal, 35, from Chennai, died in a landslide at Velathussery near Teekoy while returning from Vagamon with a friend, who was injured.
Earlier, two people died and a woman was injured when a mudslide flattened a shelter at Kottakamboor in Idukki around 3.30 pm.
The IMD said Keralam recorded a 28% rainfall deficit between June 1 and September 17, indicating a weak monsoon this year.
