Cyclone Gaja: Kerala's Idukki witnesses heavy rainfall, landslides

The heavy rains has largely affected Munnar, one of the main tourist destinations in Idukki.

news Cyclone Gaja

As Cyclone Gaja made landfall in Tamil Nadu on Friday, heavy rain lashed in various parts of Kerala. Landslides, mudslides and other damages were reported on Friday in various parts of Idukki district, where the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) had issued an orange alert for November 16.

The heavy rains have largely affected Munnar, one of the main tourist destinations in Idukki. Landslides were reported in Mammal and Edamal areas in Vattavada near Munnar on Friday around 10 am. A home in Vattavda was partially destroyed due to the landslides. The landslides and heavy rain also submerged acres of winter vegetable farms in Vattavada.

Speaking to TNM, K Jayaprakash, a resident of Vattavada, said, “Due to the heavy rains and landslides, a bridge in Mammal area in Vattavada was partially damaged. Acres of winter vegetable farms were submerged due to the flood water. The unexpected rain has created a huge loss in our area.”

Traffic was partially disrupted in the Kochi-Dhanushkodi national highway in old Munnar as the roads were submerged in the rainwater. A mudslide was reported near Mattuppetty road in Munnar and the traffic disrupted in the top station route.

Incidentally, the recently rebuilt Periyavara Bridge was also washed out due to heavy rain on Friday. The bridge, which is on the Munnar-Udumalpet interstate route, connects tourists to Rajamala tourist destination and the Eravikulam National Park.

On August 15, the Periyavara bridge was destroyed due to a landslide and the traffic disrupted in Munnar-Marayoor route for weeks. The government then constructed a temporary bridge and resumed the traffic in view of the Neelakurinji flowering season.

Landslides were reported in various parts of Idukki as well. A car was trapped in a mud puddle in Panniyarkutty near Adimali due to a landslide. The passengers narrowly escaped.

Another landslide has been reported in Thattekkanni near Neriyamangalam in the Kochi-Dhanushkodi national highway, disrupting the traffic partially. Since the last 24 hours, Idukki received an average of 3.46 mm rainfall. The water level recorded in Idukki dam was 2384.2 feet and Mullaiperiyar was 128 feet.

Rainfall was recorded in parts of Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam and Alappuzha districts, for which, KSDMA had issued yellow alert. During the Kerala floods in August, Idukki had witnessed the worst landslides.