5 killed in landslide at Kerala’s Idukki district

National

A landslide precipitated by torrential rains washed away their home in Kodiyathoor near Thodupuzha in Kerala’s Idukki district, killing five members of a single family, including a little boy, early Monday morning.

Soman, his wife Shija, and their daughter Shima have been identified as the deceased. Thankamma, Soman’s mother, is 74 years old, and his grandson Devanand, Shima’s son, is four years old.

All of the victims were discovered under debris.

The bodies were recovered after a five-hour combined rescue effort by the District Disaster Management Authority, the Fire Department, and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). The remains were taken to Thodupuzha taluk hospital for autopsies.

Heavy rains have been falling in upper range parts of Idukki since previous night. Given the current climatic circumstances in the Thodupuzha area, over 52 families have been relocated.

Flooding has occurred in various parts in the Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts as a result of heavy rains.
From Kottayam to Kasaragod, the Met Department has issued a yellow alert. Isolated heavy rain has been anticipated in the state’s hilly regions.

For any emergency scenarios, a National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) unit has been deployed in the Idukki district.

During the day, Revenue Minister K Rajan and Water Resources Minister Roshy Augustine are scheduled to visit the site.

Heavy rain is forecast for Kottayam, and there have been reports of inundation, with water entering several homes.

Landslides were also observed earlier this month in numerous parts of Idukki.

A large landslide was reported early this month at Munnar Kundala estate, fully drowning a shrine and two stores. The landslide struck the Munnar-Vattavada path, which was then covered with debris consisting of large rocks and mud.

In August of 2020, Rajamala in the Idukki district had a major landslide. Torrential rains prompted the avalanche, which killed nearly 60 people.

Kerala’s chief minister declared a Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia to the deceased’s relatives, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF).