As rivers rise, life on forest fringes of central Travancore teeters on the edge

While most people in Kottayam retreat indoors or rush to stock up on essentials during heavy rains, Mariyamma, president of the Erumely panchayat and a resident of Pampavalley, does quite the opposite. As torrential downpours lash the eastern high-ranges, she is out traversing villages, checking if settlements along the forest fringes have become isolated.

In this part of Kottayam and neighbouring Pathanamthitta, one thing is certain during the monsoon: the low-lying causeways across major rivers are prone to submersion. Since 2018, this recurring phenomenon has repeatedly cut off entire communities on the edges of the Sabarimala forests for days at a stretch.

“When multiple causeways go under water simultaneously, hundreds of families living along the forest fringes are left completely cut off,” Mariyamma explained. “Emergency responses in several wards get delayed if these crossings are closed, as we witnessed during the devastating floods of 2018 and the flash floods that followed. Judging by the current rainfall, we’re bracing for another similar event this year too,” she said.

The situation has been exacerbated over the years due to the silt deposits from the 2018 floods, which significantly reduced the elevation of these river crossings, making them more vulnerable to submersion.

Binoy E.J. Elavumgal, vice president of the Erumely panchayat, noted that water levels in all three major rivers in the region--the Manimala, Pampa, and Azhutha--have surged following the week-long deluge. “With floodwaters flowing down from the upper reaches, key causeways such as Pazhayidom and Mookkenpetty are on the verge of going under,” he said. “So far, no major incidents have been reported, but we are preparing for the worst by setting up disaster response teams in every ward.”

The situation, meanwhile, has already become critical in the neighbouring Ranni panchayat. The causeways at Kurumbanmoozhy, Arayanjilimon and Mukkom, which are located downstream along the Pampa, have been submerged. The water level in the Pampa has risen so high that it is now overflowing the mini-dam at Perunthenaruvi.

In response, authorities are moving forward with long-overdue infrastructure projects. A bridge connecting the forest hamlet of Arayanjilimannu across the Pampa is set to be constructed by the State Construction Corporation at a cost of ₹2.6 crore. Plans are also underway to build a bridge at Kurumbanmoozhy, with an estimated budget of ₹4 crore.

Published - May 29, 2025 07:45 pm IST