Heavy rain, landslide wreak havoc on Central Travancore

As the South-West monsoon held its grip over Central Travancore, non-stop rain wreaked havoc on various areas of Kottayam and Idukki districts on Friday. At least seven people were injured in different landslides following incessant rain.

Landslides were reported at six places in Thalanad and Theekkoy panchayats, near Erattupetta. However, no casualties have been reported from these places so far.

Around seven persons were injured in a landslide that occurred at Pullupara, near Peruvanthanam in Idukki. Another landside wreaked havoc at Chonamala, Periyamala, Vellampatta and Palomala in Thalanad, and Karikad in Theekkoy panchayat.

The house of Johny Vayyattussery, Thalanadu, was partially damaged in the incident. The courtyard of the house of Kumaran Karaplakkal, was washed away in the heavy flow of water.

Traffic was disrupted on several arterial roads, including Erumeli-Pamba highway and Theekkoy-Vagamon road, as water level rose drastically in major rivers like Meenachil and Pamba.

The Sabarimala pilgrims were stranded on the way as the Kanamala cosway near Mukkoottuthara was flooded by heavy flow of water from Pamba river. Traffic on the Theekkoy-Vagamon Road was disrupted for over three hours following landslide at Ottayitti.

Traffic on the Pala-Erattupetta Road was also interrupted as Meenachil river overflowed to the road at Panakkappalam.

A two-wheeler workshop building at Erumeli  collapsed in the heavy rain. The non-stop rain hit the farmlands at various areas, predominantly damaging rubber crops and other agricultural cultivation.

Farmlands of Joseph Velimattathil, Reejan Andrews Muthukattil, Achamma Vazhayil and Kumaran Karaplackal in Thalanadu panchayat were severely damaged in the rains.