Kerala floods and landslides kill two, leave many trapped as rescue ops expand

Unrelenting rain over central Kerala on Saturday sparked multiple landslides and flash floods, killing at least two people and trapping several others. In Idukki district, a slide at Adoormala buried a home, killing Sumathi while her husband Ravi and their son were rescued with injuries; another slide in Vagamon claimed the life of Prabhakaran Nair. Rescue teams comprising the National Disaster Response Force, fire and rescue services, police and revenue officials are searching for missing victims in Idukki, Kottayam and other affected areas.

The deluge has flooded towns such as Erattupetta and Kanjirappally, submerged causeways, and halted traffic on major highways, including the Kochi-Dhanushkodi route. Authorities have opened shutters on several minor dams and issued red weather alerts for eight districts, with orange alerts for three more, while schools remain closed. Efforts to evacuate residents and provide relief continue amid rising water levels.