Relentless rain hits life in Kottayam and Pathanamthitta

As torrential rains continue to lash Kerala, normal life in Kottayam has been thrown into disarray. The unrelenting downpour, accompanied by strong winds, has caused widespread destruction across the district.

All five taluks in Kottayam have been severely affected, with 21 houses destroyed on Thursday alone, according to district officials. Agricultural losses are mounting and interior road traffic has been disrupted by uprooted trees. In Kalambukadu, located in the third ward of Kallara panchayat, strong winds wreaked extensive damage.

With water levels rising steadily in major rivers, several low-lying areas in the western part of the district are now inundated. So far, the district administration has opened 15 relief camps, housing 246 individuals from 83 displaced families.

Several homes in the Thiruvarppu, Aymanam, and Kumarakom panchayats were flooded, forcing emergency evacuations. Traffic was partially disrupted along the Kottayam–Kumarakom road after the Meenachil River breached its banks. While bus services continued, small vehicles were barred from the route due to safety concerns.

The agricultural sector has suffered massive losses, estimated at ₹4.27 crore, with crop damage reported across 126 hectares. Banana cultivation has been the worst hit with 30 hectares of the crop destroyed, resulting in an estimated loss of ₹2.19 crore. Losses have also been reported in other crops including 62 hectares of paddy and 18 hectares of rubber.

In neighbouring Pathanamthitta, the situation remains equally grim. Heavy winds and persistent rainfall have caused extensive property damage and agricultural losses amounting to nearly ₹2 crore. One house each was destroyed in the Kozhencherry and Adoor taluks, while 124 houses across six taluks sustained partial damage.

Two relief camps, one each at Iraviperoor and Thannithodu, have been set up in the district, currently sheltering a total of 11 people.

District Collector S. Prem Krishnan has issued a ban on all travel to hilly areas between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. until June 1. The directive also prohibits kayaking, small boat rides, boating for tourism, trekking and all quarrying and mining operations during this period.

With forecasts predicting extremely heavy rain on Friday and continued downpours on Saturday, authorities have begun evacuating residents from vulnerable areas.

The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) reported major damage to its power distribution network, estimating losses at ₹36.8 lakh across three sections. The Pathanamthitta section alone recorded losses of ₹18.61 lakh.

In total, 73.04 hectares of crops have been destroyed in Pathanamthitta, affecting 1,138 farmers and resulting in agricultural losses pegged at ₹1.91 crore.

Published - May 29, 2025 08:48 pm IST