Kerala Floods Kill 10 as Dams Overflow and Evacuations Begin
As Kerala battles unrelenting monsoon fury, a revised weather forecast by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has placed two districts — Wayanad and Idukki — under an orange alert, with dam shutters being opened and floodwaters swelling across riverbanks. The state has now recorded 10 rain-related deaths in a span of just days.
The IMD’s updated bulletin has issued orange alerts for Wayanad and Idukki districts, predicting intense rainfall of 12 to 20 cm within 24 hours. A yellow alert is in force across 10 more districts, including Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Malappuram, and Ernakulam. Heavy downpours are forecast to persist over the weekend, with continued alerts till at least 3 July. The intensified monsoon, now sweeping across central and northern Kerala, has pushed multiple reservoirs to critical capacity. On Friday morning, the Banasura Sagar Dam in Wayanad opened its shutters, releasing 50 cubic metres of water. Wayanad District Collector has prohibited further shutter operations during night hours, citing public safety risks. Local bodies have been instructed to remain on alert for potential evacuation orders.
In Idukki, authorities opened shutters of four major dams — Lower Periyar, Kallarkutty, Ponmudi, and Malankara — as inflows surged. The discharge triggered flooding in key rivers, including the Thodupuzha–Muvattupuzha and Muthirapuzhayar. Inundation has affected religious sites and public transport hubs such as the Thodupuzha KSRTC bus stand. Meanwhile, the Mullaperiyar reservoir, governed by Tamil Nadu, has reached 135.25 feet. Idukki district officials confirmed that advance preparations are underway in anticipation of the dam breaching its 136-feet threshold. Tamil Nadu has been formally requested to release water only during daylight hours to reduce downstream risks.
The rising toll from rain-related incidents has claimed ten lives, revealing a devastating human cost. In Thrissur’s Kodakara, three migrant labourers were killed after a two-storey building collapsed. Malappuram saw multiple deaths — including 30-year-old Ramshad, who died while attempting to rescue a friend swept away by current. Abdul Latheef (42) was found dead near his home in Manjeri, submerged under water. In the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram, 17-year-old Sooraj drowned in a public pond, while another victim’s body — identified as Selva Regan from Tenkasi, Tamil Nadu — was recovered from the Karamana River after being missing for nearly a week.
Officials have begun mass relocation efforts. Idukki District Collector reported that over 3,200 residents from flood-prone villages such as Periyar, Elappara, and Upputhara are being moved to safer zones as part of precautionary efforts. The scale of mobilisation underscores the intensity of the unfolding emergency.On the coastline, the IMD has issued a high-wave warning for the stretch from Kunjathur in Kasaragod to New Mahe in Kannur. Waves are expected to reach up to 3.3 metres till Saturday evening. Authorities have strictly advised fishermen and coastal dwellers to remain ashore and avoid venturing out.
Disaster Management agencies across the state have activated emergency response protocols. Residents have been urged to avoid travel through hilly terrain and river-adjacent zones, as continuous rain increases the risk of landslides and flash floods. The situation brings renewed attention to Kerala’s fragile geography and growing vulnerabilities under extreme weather conditions. While emergency response teams are on high alert, environmental observers caution that repeated dam discharges, encroachments near riverbanks, and outdated drainage infrastructure compound the danger.
The state government has so far refrained from declaring a flood emergency but is monitoring the situation hour by hour. All district collectors have been asked to submit real-time reports to the Chief Minister’s Office. As rains continue to batter the region, the coming days will test Kerala’s resilience — and the readiness of its infrastructure to withstand the accelerating impacts of climate change.
