7 dead in major landslide in Munnar; IMD issues red alert for Idukki

Extremely heavy rainfall has led to flood-like situation in parts of Kerala. A major landslide has been reported from Idukki district in which 80 people are feared trapped.

An orange alert has been issued for Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasargod for Friday. IMD has also issued a red alert for Malappuram.

1.15 pm: 10 people have been rescued from the Rajamala landslide site in Idukki district and are receiving treatment at Tata General Hospital in Munnar.

1.05 pm: A 50-member team of especially trained fire and rescue officials has been sent to the landslide spot near Munnar.

12.35 pm: Five people have died so far in the landslide while 10 have been rescued. A major landslide swept through a tea plantation camp near Munnar in Idukki of Kerala and trapped several people. CM Pinarayi Vijayan has sought the assistance of IAF in rescue operations.

1.55 am: Kerala health minister KK Shailaja has said mobile medical teams and 15 ambulances have been sent to Idukki to arrange for treatment for those affected by the landslide. More medical teams will be sent if necessary. KK Shailaja's office has also said that she has directed to equip more hospitals immediately.

11.50 am: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan has requested assistance of the Indian Air Force (IAF) to provide helicopters for rescue efforts in Munnar of Idukki where a major landslide has trapped several tea plantation workers.

11.40 am: Communication links to the area in Idukki have been affected after the landslide as the power lines snapped in the rains. The landslide has buried nearly 20 houses of plantation workers.

11.18 am: 5 people have died so far in the major landslide in Idukki district while around 10 people have been rescued so far. "More people are trapped, we do not know the exact numbers," said the local administration.

11.17 am: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan says, “The National Disaster Response Force has been deployed to rescue the landslide victims in Idukki's Rajamala. Police, fire, forest and revenue officials also instructed to intensify rescue operation.”

11.16 am: Idukki SP has said, “A landslide occurred in Rajamala today. So far, 10 people have been rescued. The landslide occurred at a place where tea plantation workers reside. We don't know the exact numbers yet, but at least three families are stranded there.”

11.15 am: NDRF teams have been deployed for rescue and relief operations in Idukki where a major landslide is feared to have trapped over 80 peole. A standby team in Idukki has been asked to move to the accident site. Another team from Thrissur is also moving towards the landslide spot.

11.05 am: India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert of extremely heavy rainfall warning for Kerala till August 9.

10.50 am: Streets are waterlogged in Malappuram's Nilambur area due to continuous rainfall. IMD has issued a red alert in Malappuram and predicted heavy rainfall for the region.

9.30 am: Over 2,000 people have been moved to shelter homes and relief camps as heavy rains and strong winds battered Kerala over the past few days.

The IMD had issued heavy rainfall warning for Wayanad on Thursday and following the rains, a flood-like situation has developed in Wayanad.

After the deaths of five more people on Thursday, the total toll in the June 1 rains have gone up to 36 while at least 2,334 people have moved to relief camps across Kerala.

Nilambur in Malappuram was briefly flooded after the Chaliyar river overflowed and people in waterlogged areas were asked to shift to their relatives homes. Torrential rains, which lashed the eastern parts of Kozhikode, Wayanad and Malappuram districts since Tuesday evening, has inundated several low-lying areas in many parts of the three districts.

The carcass of a wild elephant from Neriamangalam village in Ernakulam was washed away in the Periyar river in the heavy rains.

In Thrissur, trees were uprooted in various places due to strong winds and heavy rains lashing the district. In Chalakudy-Irinjalakuda region, trees and electric posts were uprooted with vast areas of rubber trees and banana farm being destroyed.

Trees fell on some shops and homes, damaging them.

The State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) said besides five deaths, six people were injured, 12 houses were fully destroyed and 735 houses were partially damaged.

With five more fatalities that was reported on Thursday, the toll since the onset of the four-month-long south-west monsoon season, which began on June 1, has gone up to 36 in Kerala.