One killed and another feared trapped after landslides in Keralam’s Idukki district

Heavy rainfall on Saturday led to multiple landslides in Idukki district, Keralam, resulting in one confirmed death and another person feared trapped under debris. In Vagamon, a landslide struck a residential house, killing Prabhakaran Nair, a native of Vaikom. Authorities confirmed the fatality but stated that his body has not yet been recovered as rescue teams continue efforts in the challenging terrain. Separately, a landslide occurred at Adoormala, where local officials suspect that one individual remains trapped beneath mud and rubble. Search operations are ongoing at the site. The heavy rain also caused significant disruption to infrastructure. Near Machiplavu in Adimali, a major landslide on the Kochi-Dhanushkodi National Highway resulted in the suspension of all traffic after a car and a Taurus lorry were caught in falling debris. Rescue workers and district authorities are present to clear the highway and locate those missing. The district administration has urged residents in landslide-prone areas to remain alert as rainfall continues. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red warning on Saturday for thunderstorms and lightning with gusty winds of approximately 60 kmph and heavy rain exceeding 15 mm per hour in several districts of Gujarat and Keralam for the next two to three hours. In Keralam, the red warning covers Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Idukki, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts. An orange warning was also issued for thunderstorms and lightning with gusty winds of 40-60 kmph and moderate rain of 5-15 mm per hour in parts of Keralam, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Assam. The orange warning zones in Keralam include Kannur, Kasaragod, Kollam, Kozhikode, Lakshadweep, Malappuram, Palakkad, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur and Wayanad.