Archive · 21 Sep 2026
Mudslides Kill Four in Kerala as Victims Are Cremated
Heavy rain caused landslides in parts of Kerala.
Four people died in separate incidents in Idukki and Kottayam districts.
Two of the victims were siblings named Balakrishnan and Chinnu.
They had taken shelter in a shed when mud covered and destroyed it.
Balakrishnan’s wife was hurt and taken to a hospital.
Joseph died when a landslide hit his house.
Sangeetha Arul Lal was caught in a landslide while riding a scooter.
Officials attended the funerals and said affected families would receive help.
They also said people living in unsafe homes could be moved to safer places.
Siblings Balakrishnan and Chinnu died when a mudslide flattened a shed in Kottakamboor, Idukki, on Sunday.
Balakrishnan’s wife, Mariamma, was injured and is being treated at a hospital in Adimali.
Two other people, Joseph and Sangeetha Arul Lal, died in separate rain-triggered landslides in Kottayam district.
The siblings were cremated at Kottakamboor public crematorium after postmortems on Monday.
Officials promised rehabilitation, relocation of unsafe households and financial assistance after assessing the damage.
- Who
- Four people—Balakrishnan, Chinnu, Joseph and Sangeetha Arul Lal—died; Mariamma was injured.
- What
- Mudslides and landslides triggered by heavy rain caused deaths, destroyed homes and damaged property.
- When
- The incidents occurred on Sunday, and the cremations, burials and transfer of remains took place on Monday, September 21.
- Where
- The incidents occurred in Kottakamboor and other areas of Idukki and Kottayam districts in Kerala.
- Why
- Torrential rain triggered mudslides and landslides in the affected areas.
- Deaths
- Four people died in separate landslide incidents.
- Idukki victims
- Siblings Balakrishnan and Chinnu died at Kottakamboor.
- Kottayam victims
- Joseph of Poonjar Thekkekara and Sangeetha Arul Lal died in separate incidents.
- Injury
- Balakrishnan’s wife Mariamma was injured and treated at a hospital in Adimali.
- Immediate assistance
- F Raja provided Rs 10,000 each to the relatives of the two deceased siblings.
- Property damage
- Two houses were completely destroyed and vehicles were swept away in a landslip.
- Government response
- Officials said affected families would be rehabilitated, and households deemed unsafe could be relocated.