Archive · 21 Sep 2026
Kerala Rain Toll Reaches Nine as Satheesan Visits Malappuram
Heavy rain caused floods and landslides in parts of Kerala.
Nine people have died in rain-related incidents.
Five of the deaths happened near the Kottapuzha River in Malappuram.
One person is still missing, and search teams are looking for them.
Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan visited the area to honor the victims and review the situation.
Pinarayi Vijayan said the government had been too slow in giving promised help to earlier flood victims.
Weather officials said the rain was very heavy in small areas but was not a cloudburst.
They warned people in hilly areas to remain careful because more intense rain may occur.
Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan visited rain-hit Malappuram on Monday to pay respects to victims and assess the damage.
Kerala’s rain-related death toll rose to nine after three bodies were recovered from the Kottapuzha River.
Five people died in the Nilambur-area flash flood, while one person remains missing.
Pinarayi Vijayan accused the government of delaying financial aid promised to earlier flood victims.
The India Meteorological Department said the intense rainfall was not a cloudburst and warned of more localized heavy rain.
- Who
- Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan visited the affected area; Pinarayi Vijayan criticized the government’s relief efforts.
- What
- Flash floods, landslips and intense rain caused nine deaths in Kerala, while rescue and search operations continued.
- When
- The visit and latest recoveries took place on Monday; the India Meteorological Department warned of more intense rain in the coming days.
- Where
- The worst impact was reported in Wandoor and Nilambur in Malappuram, with additional deaths in Idukki and Kottayam.
- Why
- Satheesan visited to pay respects and assess the situation, while the weather officials attributed the flooding to very heavy rain over small areas in a short period.
Government Response
Opposition Criticism
Response to the latest disaster
Government Response
The Chief Minister’s Office said V.D. Satheesan would visit affected areas, pay respects to victims and assess the situation.
Opposition Criticism
Pinarayi Vijayan said the government was neglecting disaster victims despite repeated natural calamities.
Distribution of relief
Government Response
The government had announced immediate assistance of Rs 10,000 for flood victims in three districts.
Opposition Criticism
Vijayan alleged that the assistance had not been fully distributed, citing limited payments in Alappuzha and incomplete data collection in Kottayam.
Support for rain-affected workers
Government Response
The government had announced assistance for people who lost employment because of the rains.
Opposition Criticism
Vijayan alleged that applications for this assistance were still not being accepted one-and-a-half months after the announcement.
- Rain-related deaths
- Nine people have died across Kerala.
- Malappuram deaths
- Five people died in the flash flood in the Nilambur area.
- Missing person
- One person remains missing, with search operations continuing.
- Other affected districts
- Two people each were killed in rain-related incidents in Idukki and Kottayam.
- Relief announced
- The government announced Rs 10,000 in immediate flood relief for victims in Alappuzha, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta.
- Weather assessment
- The India Meteorological Department said the rainfall was not a cloudburst.
- Weather warning
- Similar intense rain over limited areas may occur in the coming days, especially affecting hilly areas.