Live: Kerala Heavy Rain Chaos: Revenue Minister calls urgent meeting to coordinate rescue operations

As of 10 p.m. on Saturday (August 1, 2026), the IMD has placed all districts in Kerala under an orange alert, barring Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram.

A spell of heavy rain from Friday (July 31, 2026) night through Saturday (August 1, 2026) caused severe disruption across Kerala, leading to eight fatalities in rain-related events. The extreme weather triggered sudden flash floods, landslides, and widespread damage, predominantly in high-altitude areas. With eight deaths confirmed across the state, emergency teams are actively engaged in relief and rescue operations amidst ongoing flood conditions.

An orange warning has been activated for the next three hours in thirteen districts, including Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod. Meanwhile, Thiruvananthapuram is likely to experience scattered moderate rain showers during this period.

District Emergency Operations Centres (DEOCs) reported that relentless rain across Kerala resulted in six casualties and six missing individuals as of 6 p.m. Losses of life occurred in Kottayam, Idukki, and Malappuram. Additionally, four people are missing in Thiruvananthapuram and two in Kollam. To aid displaced residents, more than 65 relief camps are functioning across the State, currently sheltering over 1,465 people.

In light of heavy rainfall, severe flooding in the Pampa river, and the potential risk of landslips, the Travancore Devaswom Board has issued a security warning. The board has advised devotees planning to visit the Sabarimala temple on August 2 and 3, 2026, for the Niraputhari festival to reconsider their trip. The advisory was released following security alerts issued for the area.

Water storage in the Idukki reservoir climbed nearly 6 feet over the last 24 hours. The water mark reached 2,336.04 ft at 1:00 p.m. today, compared to 2,330.90 ft at 7:00 a.m. yesterday. A dam safety official from the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) reported that the catchment area of the Idukki dam received 154 mm of rainfall during the past 24 hours. The official noted that the heavy rainfall caused a sudden expansion in the dam's stored volume. He further recalled that on August 7, 2020, the reservoir registered a single-day height increase of 6.18 ft, followed by a further 5.5 ft climb the next day. That marked the largest water inflow into the reservoir in recent memory. Back in 2020, the level stood at 2,347 ft and jumped to 2,353 ft within 24 hours, driven by 226 mm of rain in its catchment zones. As the water level climbs, the surface spread widens, meaning a significantly larger volume of water is necessary for each additional foot of elevation, the official explained.

Torrential downpours battered the hilly district of Idukki early this morning, taking two lives and inflicting widespread destruction across several localities. A massive landslide hit Adoormala in Thodupuzha's Kudayathoor panchayat around 2:00 a.m., causing a house belonging to Mashikkalel Ravi Narayanan to collapse. A woman lost her life in the incident while two others sustained injuries. Police stated that 72-year-old Ravi, his 69-year-old wife Sumathi, and their 38-year-old son Ratheesh were trapped inside when the mudslide struck.

Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan conferred with state ministers and district collectors today to review the emergency scenario resulting from heavy rainfall. The Chief Minister instructed ministers assigned to individual districts to remain present in their designated areas and personally supervise relief efforts. Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan is actively monitoring the ongoing relief and emergency response operations across all affected districts.

Continuous heavy downpours led to the severe destruction of a residential structure in Palakkad district.

To elevate its operational performance over the next five years, Kerala's Water Resources Department is drafting both short-term and long-term action blueprints. To achieve this objective, the state administration proposes to hold a conclave in Thiruvananthapuram around mid-August to deliberate on various schemes and project proposals. Generally, the short-term roadmap will span a one-year timeframe, whereas the long-term initiative will extend across five years. These five-year strategic development plans aim to refine water resource management and address key distribution challenges.

Continuous monsoon downpours heavily hit Thrissur district on Saturday (August 1, 2026), flooding low-elevation zones, causing widespread traffic gridlocks throughout the city, and forcing officials to announce several flood alerts as dam reservoirs neared capacity. Starting at 10 a.m., the IMD placed Thrissur under a Red Alert, forecasting exceptionally heavy showers along with gusty winds reaching speeds of up to 50 kmph across the subsequent three-hour period.

Numerous families were relocated to secure centers in Kozhikode district's rural belt today due to intense rainfall and a swift escalation in river levels. Water from swelling rivers inundated Engapuzha town alongside neighbouring zones, leading the District Disaster Management Authority to execute prompt emergency relocation actions. The severe weather in Kozhikode has caused flooding and displacement, leaving local households and business establishments with severe losses.

In the meantime, local authorities have operationalised dedicated control centers across the district as well as at taluk divisions. Government officials have asked residents to stay alert and strictly adhere to official guidance and safety protocols. Helpdesk phone lines are: 04936 204151, 9526804151, 8078409770 for the District Control Room; 04936 256100, 04936 255229, 8590842965, 9447097705 for Vythiri Taluk; 04936 220296, 04936 223355, 6238461385, 9447097707 for Sulthan Bathery Taluk; 04935 240231, 04935 241111, 9446637748, 9447097704 for Mananthavady Taluk; alongside toll-free number 1077.

As the southwest monsoon picks up momentum in Wayanad, local authorities have launched a relief facility and evacuated citizens from high-risk spots to safety. A total of 24 individuals representing eight households were moved to the Government Lower Primary School in Kappuvayal following floodwaters inundating homes in Kavumannam village's Thayyil Unnathi locality. Additionally, nine individuals belonging to three families were transferred to the same facility when a landslip impacted a home in Chekkanni Kattunaikka Unnathi.

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Coastal Police along with local residents rescued 17 fishermen this morning after their boat got stranded in the sea to the west of Kappalangadi in Kadalundi following an engine breakdown. The fishing craft had departed from Beypore Harbour on the previous day. Injured individuals were admitted to Feroke Hospital for medical care, with officials confirming that none sustained severe injuries.

Due to a continuous rise in water inflow at Peppara Dam, all four of its gates are scheduled to be lifted by 20 cm each (amounting to 80 cm in total) at 12 p.m. today. This action is anticipated to cause a further increase in the water levels at Aruvikkara Dam. As a consequence, all four gates of Aruvikkara Dam will be lifted by an extra 20 cm each at 5 p.m. today, adding to the current 200 cm opening and bringing the aggregate discharge opening to 280 cm. District Collector Anu Kumari advised residents residing close to the dam structures and on either side of the river banks to maintain strict caution.

Heavy downpours led to a fatal landslide in Kottayam today, taking two lives when a residential structure was completely buried at Payanithottam in Kaippally, Poonjar Thekkekara. The victims have been identified as Josephin Johny and his mother, Regina Johny. The incident took place as a portion of the hill adjacent to their home collapsed after relentless precipitation, dumping a massive volume of mud and rubble onto the house and trapping them under debris. A mother and her son lost their lives in Poonjar after rain-induced mudslides caved in their residential property under rubble.

Owing to intense rain across the high-altitude areas of Thiruvananthapuram today, a small-scale landslide was reported at the popular tourist spot Ponmudi, carrying silt and debris from the 12th hairpin curve down toward the 9th curve. The damage to the edges of the roadway has temporarily frozen all vehicular movement traveling toward Ponmudi.

Severe precipitation battered several areas of Ernakulam district this morning, leading officials to release safety alerts and caution notices. Although non-stop showers continued through the night across the district, urban areas experienced temporary relief during the morning hours. Nevertheless, the eastern belt of the district, particularly Kothamangalam and adjoining sectors, witnessed relentless downpours that flooded several residences and cut off specific localities. Continuous downpours in Ernakulam have compelled authorities to close tourist destinations and issue safety warnings due to hazardous rises in river water levels.

Leader of Opposition in Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan, has emphasized the imperative of maintaining vigilance considering the widespread rain-triggered incidents across the state. He additionally demanded swift relief assistance to aid the impacted communities.

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Owing to relentless downpours throughout Wayanad, District Collector D.R. Meghashree has appealed to citizens to stay vigilant and refrain from non-vital commutes along the Thamarassery Ghat road. According to the Collector, the Vythiri and Lakkidi areas registered exceptionally high rainfall during the preceding 24 hours. Given the current weather crisis, commuters are encouraged to refrain from non-urgent travel between Kozhikode and Wayanad districts along this mountain corridor. Ms. Meghashree specified that only emergency and essential movement will be allowed on the ghat route for now. Additionally, limitations are being put in place for tourist traffic and heavy commercial vehicles.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) raised its warning level for Kerala, placing nine districts—Kasaragod, Kannur, Wayanad, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Thrissur, Idukki, Kottayam, and Pathanamthitta—under a red alert due to expectations of extremely heavy precipitation during the coming 24 hours. Meanwhile, an orange alert remains active for the other five districts, where very heavy rainfall is anticipated today.

With water levels swelling at a concerning rate, the Water Resources Department has sounded an orange alert for the Muvattupuzha river close to Thodupuzha, the Kallada river at Punalur, the Meenachil river near Pala, as well as the Manimala and Pampa rivers. Members of the public are strictly warned against stepping into these water bodies for bathing or attempting to cross them. Those living on either riverbank are advised to maintain high alert and move to safer locations if instructed by local officials.

According to fresh radar observations, moderate to heavy spells of rain along with strong winds blowing up to 50 km/h are likely over the next 3 hours in Idukki, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod, according to the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority's (KSDMA) impact-based update. The alert indicates that key thoroughfares could suffer waterlogging, while low visibility may hamper vehicular traffic. Furthermore, inundation and flooding are expected across several low-lying pockets and riverfront zones.

Due to a steep surge in water volume, all six spillway gates of the Mangalam Dam located near Wadakancherry in Palakkad district were lifted by 5 cm today. The water level in the dam reached 77.57 metres, nearing its maximum capacity of 77.88 metres. With inflow continuing unabated and the reservoir exceeding warning marks, officials raised all six gates by 5 cm to control water discharge. WhatsApp Image 2026-08-01 at 11.26.09.jpeg

Torrential downpours in Thrissur have inundated portions of Post Office Road and Chettiyangadi today. Local shopkeepers and residents pointed out that poorly planned drainage networks hindered rainwater drainage, leading to floodwaters entering commercial premises in low-lying pockets as heavy rains continue over the city. WhatsApp Image 2026-08-01 at 11.24.00.jpeg

Relief and rescue missions are actively in progress in Kottayam after a landslide hit the area.

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Torrential downpours have been reported in various locations across Pathanamthitta, submerging commercial shops and causing severe waterlogging on roads.

With persistent heavy rainfall and reports of landslips in multiple areas, Chief Minister V.D. Satheeshan held discussions with the Revenue Minister, Chief Secretary, and District Collectors. Disaster management efforts will be directed by the Revenue Minister, who has called a meeting with District Collectors at 11 a.m. The Chief Minister confirmed that the NDRF, police personnel, and emergency services are fully prepared to handle any eventualities.

Amid ongoing heavy downpours and reports of mudslides across Kerala, Chief Minister V.D. Satheeshan got in touch with the Revenue Minister, Chief Secretary, and District Collectors on Saturday (August 1, 2026). Relief and mitigation actions will be spearheaded by Revenue Minister A.P. Anilkumar, who scheduled a Collectors' meeting at 11 a.m. Kerala is enforcing safety protocols to deal with the harsh weather, with coordinated disaster response led by Revenue Minister A.P. Anilkumar.

Raging rainfall caused severe damage throughout Kerala's Idukki district early Saturday morning (August 1, 2026). A major landslide at Adoormala in Kudayathoor panchayat, Thodupuzha, claimed the life of one woman and injured two others. Police noted that debris collapsed onto the residence of Mashikkalel Ravi Narayanan around 2:00 a.m. Following the fatal landslide caused by heavy rain in Idukki, local educational institutions have been granted a holiday.

Persistent rainfall since Friday (July 31, 2026) evening has battered the eastern high ranges of Kottayam and Pathanamthitta, inducing flash floods and landslides that killed one person, left two missing, and damaged houses, infrastructure, and agricultural fields. The victim was identified as Josephin Johny Manappatt from Payanithodu in Poonjar. Officials reported that a massive landslip crashed onto his residence at the base of a hill, burying it in mud. Torrential precipitation in Kottayam and Pathanamthitta has brought flash floods and debris flows, prompting emergency operations and high alert levels across affected regions.