Visuals from a rescue operation under way in Poonjar on August 1, 2026. Photo: Special Arrangement
The eastern high ranges of Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts, battered by torrential rain since Friday (July 31, 2026) evening, have been ravaged by a series of landslips and flash floods, leaving one person dead, two others missing, and causing widespread damage to houses, roads and crops.
The deceased has been identified as Josephin Johny Manappatt, a resident of Payanithodu in Poonjar. According to rescue officials, a massive landslip struck his house, located at the foot of a hill and buried it under debris. His mother, Rejeena Johny, remains missing and search operations are under way.
Another person, identified as Prabhakaran Nair, a native of Vaikom, has also gone missing after a landslip hit the house of Leelamani at Kolahalamedu near Vagamon.
In Teekoy panchayat, at least four houses were washed away after a landslip struck the Muppathekkar settlement. Several people sustained injuries and have been shifted to the homes of relatives nearby. A heavy surge of water and slush swept through downstream residential areas, inundating houses and commercial establishments. The landslip also destroyed crops spread across several acres, while vehicles, including autorickshaws and two wheelers, were either swept away or remain trapped under slush. Floodwaters also washed away the Illikunnu bridge in Teekoy.
The authorities have sounded a high alert across the high ranges and downstream areas amid fears of further landslips and flash floods.
The Mundakkayam causeway remains submerged after floodwaters overtopped it, while water has entered several houses at Kootickal. Low lying areas in Kanjirappally and Parathode remain inundated, and the Erumeli Valiyambalam Temple has also been flooded.
Large parts of Erattupetta town remain under water, prompting rescue teams to evacuate residents stranded by the rising floodwaters.
On the Pala Erattupetta road, floodwaters have submerged the carriageway at Moonnani. A landslip on the Erattupetta Vagamon road has completely disrupted traffic along the route.
Major rivers in the region, including the Pampa and the Manimala, have overflowed their banks at several locations. The Meenachil river has also risen sharply, raising fears of flooding in Pala town and the low lying areas further west.
According to data from the Automatic Weather Station of the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), Vagamon received 314 mm of rainfall during the 24 hours ending Saturday (August 1, 2026) morning, while Pathampuzha in the foothills recorded 179.4 mm.
In Pathanamthitta district, a soil-slippage was reported near Thoobakkulam earlier in the day, though no major damage has been reported. The Vadasserikkara region received 339 mm of rains over the last 24 hours. Ranni town remains inundated by runoff from the surrounding hills, with several roads and commercial establishments under water.
A landslip at Kanamala Attivalavu on the Sabarimala road has disrupted traffic after soil slid onto the carriageway. The Pampa has breached its banks at Aranmula following a sharp rise in the water level, prompting the authorities to issue an alert for the Palliyodam snake boats participating in the Aranmula Vallasadya rituals.
The Moozhiyar dam remains partially open, while the shutters of the Maniyar dam continue to remain open for maintenance works. The Achankovil river has also overflowed its banks, inundating the road at Attachackal and disrupting traffic.
Fire and Rescue Services personnel have been deployed across the affected areas, while the district administrations are coordinating rescue and relief operations. Three relief camps have been opened at Kozhencherry, Thiruvalla and Aranmula to accommodate displaced families.
Published – August 01, 2026 10:31 am IST
