Landslides in Tamil Nadu kill bus driver, destroy home and halt highway traffic
Heavy rain triggered landslides across Nilgiris and Coimbatore, killing a government bus driver, injuring a conductor and washing away a house.
Intense rainfall on Friday night sparked landslides at more than ten spots on the Coonoor-Mettupalayam National Highway in Tamil Nadu's Nilgiris and Coimbatore districts, halting traffic completely. The slide struck a government bus on the Mettupalayam-Ooty road, killing driver Janakaraj and injuring conductor Kesavan, who was later taken to Mettupalayam Government Hospital. A nearby goods vehicle carrying chickens was also swept into a gorge, though its driver escaped unharmed.
In Barliyar village, a house and its contents were washed away, prompting residents to appeal for relief. District Collector Lakshmi Bhavya Tanneeru and Superintendent of Police Brinda inspected the sites, while disaster response teams, fire and rescue personnel, and the highways department work to clear mud, boulders and fallen trees and to assess road stability before reopening the route.
Why it matters
The disaster disrupts transport, causes loss of life and leaves families homeless, highlighting the need for effective flood and landslide response.
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