Five of family killed in landslide at Thodupuzha in Idukki

IDUKKI: Five of a family were killed after a landslide triggered by heavy rains hit their house at Kudayathur in Thodupuzha. The landslide hit the family at around 2.30 am at Kudayathur Sangamam Junction. Soman of Chittadichal, his wife Jaya, mother Thankamma (75), daughter Sima and grandson Devanand (four) are those dead. Soman’s house is completely under the mud.

It took five hours of a combined rescue operation by District Disaster Management Authority, Fire force, and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to retrieve the bodies. The bodies have been sent to Thodupuzha taluk hospital for an autopsy.

Idukki MP Dean Kuriakose and SP reached Kudayathur. Minister Roshy Augustine will also reach the spot. People in nearby houses will be relocated have been shifted to Kudayathur school. The landslide occurred near the Kudayathur street around 4 am on Monday. There was heavy rain in the area since last night.

Since last night high range areas of Idukki have been witnessing heavy rains. Over 52 families have been shifted considering the current climatic conditions in the Thodupuzha area. Heavy rains have led to flooding in several areas in Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts.

The Met Department has issued a yellow alert from Kottayam to Kasaragod. Isolated heavy rain has been predicted in hilly regions of the state. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team has been deployed in the Idukki district for any emergency situations. Revenue minister K Rajan and water resources minister Roshy Augustine are slated to visit the site during the day. Heavy rainfall is predicted in Kottayam and there have been reports of inundation with water entering some houses.