The mudslide-hit area at Kottakkamboor, near Vattavada, in Idukki on Sunday.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Two people were killed and one was seriously injured after a mudslide destroyed a makeshift shed on a garlic farm at Kottakkamboor, near Vattavada, in Munnar in Keralam on Sunday (September 20, 2026).
According to the police, the deceased have been identified as Kottakkamboor residents Balakrishnan, 50, and his sister Chinnu, 35. Balakrishnan’s wife, Mariyamma, 40, was severely injured and has been admitted to Munnar Government Hospital.
The incident occurred around 3 p.m. near Ammankovil in Kottakkamboor. The three were working on a garlic farm when the area experienced heavy rain. They sought shelter from the downpour in a temporary shed on the farmland when a mudslide struck the hill, sweeping the structure away.
According to initial reports, the victims were trapped beneath the debris and local residents pulled them out following an intense rescue effort. Balakrishnan and Chinnu died on the spot, while Mariyamma has been hospitalised with severe injuries.
Electrocution suspected
Devikulam Subcollector V.M. Arya said the mudslide was triggered by torrential rainfall. “During the incident, an electric pole also fell onto the shed. It is suspected that electrocution may have caused the deaths, but this has not yet been confirmed. The exact cause of the deaths will be determined only after receiving the post-mortem examination reports. The incident occurred in an isolated area where people do not reside; they were working on the farmland at the time,” Ms Arya said.
“The injured woman, Mariyamma, is undergoing treatment at Munnar Government Hospital. The bodies will be shifted to the Adimaly Taluk Hospital for post-mortem examination,” she said.
Remote location
Kottakkamboor, located in Vattavada gram panchayat, is a remote area. Rescue workers had to carry the victims using makeshift bamboo stretchers.
K. Jayaprakash, a resident of Vattavada said that the panchayat witnessed extremely heavy rainfall starting around 3 p.m. on Sunday. “There was no rain in the morning, but by afternoon, the area experienced heavy downpours,” Mr. Jayaprakash said.
Owing to the ongoing Neelakurinji blooming season and the weekend rush, the Munnar–Vattavada route was heavily congested. Traffic restrictions were briefly imposed along the stretch to allow emergency services to transport the injured woman to the hospital.
Food and Civil Supplies Minister Anoop Jacob, who is in charge of Idukki district, said directions had been issued to ensure the injured woman received proper treatment. He added that the government would bear all medical expenses and provide maximum financial assistance to the affected families.
The Minister will also visit the Adimaly Taluk Hospital, where the bodies of the two victims are kept, to pay his respects to the victims.
Published – September 20, 2026 09:12 pm IST
