A file photo of the Thamarassery Ghat Road. S. The restrictions were put in place following concerns over possible landslips, mudslides, and rockfalls along the route following heavy rain.
A file photo of the Thamarassery Ghat Road. | Ragesh With heavy rainfall lashing Kozhikode district, the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on Saturday (August 1, 2026) imposed traffic restrictions on the Thamarassery Ghat Road and ordered the immediate closure of all eco-tourism centres and water tourism destinations across the district.Issuing orders under Sections 30 and 34 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, District Collector and DDMA Chairperson M.S. Madhavikutty announced a total ban on the movement of heavy vehicles, multi-axle lorries, trailers, tourist transport, and non-essential private vehicles through the Thamarassery pass.The restrictions were put in place following concerns over possible landslips, mudslides, and rockfalls along the route following heavy rain. The Collector warned that strict legal action under Section 51 of the Disaster Management Act and relevant provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, would be taken against violators.Freight and heavy transport bound for Wayanad have been redirected through the Kuttiyadi and Nadukani mountain passes. Essential services-including Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses, ambulances, Fire and Rescue Services, police, and civil defence units remain exempted from the restrictions, which will stay in force until further notice.Following the Collector’s instructions, the Kozhikode Rural Police have set up checkpoints at Adivaram to inspect and regulate vehicular movement. Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) equipped with earthmovers, chain saws, and rescue gear have been posted along critical sections of the pass, particularly between the sixth and ninth hairpin bends, to immediately clear fallen trees or debris.Public Works department (PWD)-National Highways division and Forest department officials have also initiated joint patrolling. As part of the safety measures, public access to all major tourist and eco-tourism destinations, including Kakkayam and Kariyathumpara, have been prohibited due to rising water levels. Local administration, police, Forest department, and District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) officials have been tasked with enforcing the ban.The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has issued a safety warning, advising the public to maintain a safe distance from snapped power cables or trees leaning onto power lines. Residents can report electrical hazards to KSEB via its toll-free helpline-1912. The district-level helpline is : 04952-371002/9446538900. Published - August 01, 2026 04:29 pm IST
Rescue personnel and people during a rescue operation following a landslide due to rain-triggered floods in Kottayam on Saturday. | Two of the deaths occurred at Payyanithottam in Poonjar Thekkekara, where a landslip buried a house in the early hours of Saturday. The victims were identified as Josephin Johny, 27, and his mother, Rejeena Johny, 49.The landslip occurred when a section of the hillside adjoining their house collapsed following incessant rain, sending a large mass of earth crashing onto the building and burying it under debris.Escaped unhurtJosephin’s father, M.J. Johny, escaped unhurt as he was at a neighbouring house when the landslip struck. The couple’s two daughters, Jomit and Somit, were also away from home. Josephin, who worked at the canteen of an engineering college at Choondacherry, had been recuperating at home after sustaining a leg injury in a motorcycle accident at Erattupetta about a month ago. Rejeena was an employee of a private school at Payyanithottam, while Johny works as a school bus driver.Local residents said the landslip originated from the Idamala hillside, an area with no known history of major landslips. Personnel from the Fire and Rescue Services, the police and the Revenue department launched rescue operations immediately, but the woman and son could not be saved. Their bodies were later recovered from the debris.Fell inro pitThe third victim was Milan K. Shinu,11, of Thottakkad in Vakathanam panchayat. He died after falling into a waterlogged pit dug for Jal Jeevan Mission works around 10.40 a.m. Though he was rescued and rushed to hospital, his life could not be saved.The heavy rain also caused substantial damage to livestock. At Theekoy, floodwaters rushing down from the hills inundated the dairy farm of Anil Kumar of Puthenpurackal in the early hours of Saturday, killing 11 cattle that had been tethered inside the cowshed.Multiple landslips were reported from the eastern high ranges as the Meenachil river overflowed its banks, inundating low-lying areas. Floodwaters entered several commercial establishments in Erattupetta town, where traders said the flooding was worse than that witnessed during the devastating 2018 deluge. Shop owners estimated losses running into lakhs of rupees.As the rain eased on Saturday morning, water levels began receding in the eastern high-range areas by evening. However, authorities warned that the runoff would raise water levels further downstream. By afternoon, floodwaters entered parts of Pala town as the Meenachil continued to flow in full spate after breaching its banks at several places.The Manimala river was also in spate while its major tributary, the Pullakayar, witnessed a heavy inflow of water following minor landslips in the Koottickal and Kokkayar region in the Wagamon valley. Although floodwaters that submerged the Mundakayam causeway in the morning later receded, parts of Manimala town remained inundated, causing heavy losses to business establishments.Ten relief camps, including six in Kanjirappally taluk, were opened across the district, providing shelter to 327 people. Published - August 01, 2026 06:33 pm IST
Following heavy rain in the hilly regions of Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday, August 1, 2026, a minor landslip occurred at the tourist destination of Ponmudi, where debris from the 12th hairpin bend was washed down as far as the 9th bend.The collapse of the road edges has brought traffic heading to Ponmudi to a complete halt for the time being.As the incident occurred early in the morning, a major accident was averted due to the existing restrictions on uphill vehicle movement from Kallar. Although personnel from the Fire and Rescue Services in Vithura and officials of the Forest Department have arrived and begun clearing the debris, a complete ban on travel to Ponmudi has been imposed due to the continuing risk of further landslips In the wake of heavy rains continuing in various parts of the state and reports of landslides and mudslides in some places, Chief Minister V.D. Satheeshan contacted the Revenue Minister, the Chief Secretary, and the District Collectors. m. on Saturday (August 1).As a result, the water level in the Aruvikkara Dam is also expected to rise further. Consequently, all four shutters of the Aruvikkara Dam will be raised by an additional 20 cm each at 5 p.m. on Saturday (August 1). This is in addition to the existing 200 cm opening, taking the total opening to 280 cm.District Collector Anu Kumari said that people living in areas near the dams and along both banks of the river should remain vigilant.CM steps up disaster prevention activitiesIn the wake of heavy rains continuing in various parts of the state and reports of landslides and mudslides in some places, Chief Minister V.D. Satheeshan contacted the Revenue Minister, the Chief Secretary, and the District Collectors.Disaster prevention activities will be coordinated by the Revenue Minister. NDRF, police, and others are prepared to handle any situation, said the Chief Minister.The government has decided to provide better treatment to the injured and to expedite rehabilitation activities, said the Chief Minister on a social media post here on Saturday. Published - August 01, 2026 11:53 am IST
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