Heavy rain claims 4 lives in Keralam, retaining wall collapses in Edavanna amid landslides
Malappuram, August 1
Heavy rainfall in the hilly regions since last night caused damage in several parts of Edavanna on Saturday, with a retaining wall of a house under construction collapsing at Chembakkuthu and electricity poles and power lines being damaged.
The incident took place around 6 am near Jamia College at Chembakkuthu, where the concrete retaining wall of a house under construction owned by Mustafa collapsed onto the road.
The collapse disrupted traffic in the area as debris blocked the roadway. Power lines were also snapped in the incident, affecting electricity infrastructure in the locality.
Edavanna Grama Panchayat President Suneera Samad, along with other elected representatives and officials, visited the site to assess the damage.
The heavy rainfall in the state has claimed four lives and triggered a series of landslides and debris flows in Keralam's southern districts, officials said on Saturday.
According to Sekhar Lukose Kuriakose, Member Secretary of the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA), two fatalities each have been reported from Idukki and Kottayam districts. The intense rain spell, which occurred primarily between 10 PM and early morning, caused significant damage to houses and roads in slope-cut areas.
"So essentially, what we have seen is fatality numbers are very low, thankfully. We have two deaths reported from Idukki and two from Kottayam," he said.
In view of the continuing rainfall, Keralam Health Minister K Muraleedharan directed the Health Department to convene an emergency meeting of officials today. The meeting, scheduled for 11 AM, will be held online and chaired by Health Department Director Meenakshi.
The emergency session, which will include District Medical Officers and NHM District Programme Managers, aims to review the functioning of relief camps and discuss local-level medical arrangements. Further action will be determined after assessing the specific needs of each affected district.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Every monsoon we see the same story - landslides, collapsed walls, power outages. The authorities need to be more proactive instead of just visiting sites after the damage. We need better early warning systems and stricter land-use regulations in vulnerable zones. This is not just bad luck, it's a pattern.
So tragic. I have family in Kochi and they said the rainfall this year has been relentless. Glad to see the local panchayat president and officials responded quickly, but climate change is making these events more frequent and intense. Praying for everyone in Kerala. 🌧️
The fact that only 4 lives were lost in such extreme rain is actually a testament to Kerala's disaster management improvements after the 2018 floods. But still, we can't become complacent. The health department's emergency meeting is a good step, but we need long-term solutions like better drainage systems and climate-resilient infrastructure. Also, why is construction happening in such vulnerable slope areas in the first place?
Heartbreaking news from my home state. These retaining walls need proper engineering, not just quick construction. Hope the panchayat ensures proper compensation for the affected families and that relief camps are well-equipped. Kerala knows how to stand strong, but we must learn to adapt to the new climate reality. Stay safe, everyone. 🤍
It's heartbreaking to see this devastation. I hope the authorities are taking necessary precautions to prevent further loss of life, especially in areas prone to landslides. The emergency health meeting is a classic example of our systems working to mitigate the effects. Stay strong, Kerala! 🇮🇳
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.