Nilgiris landslides triggered by torrential rain have disrupted road connectivity across the hill district, damaged roadside infrastructure and forced authorities to restrict traffic on the Coonoor–Mettupalayam route. The highways department has deployed teams and heavy machinery for round-the-clock restoration, while officials monitor vulnerable slopes and prepare for possible evacuations.
The district recorded cumulative rainfall of 734.5mm in the 24 hours ending at 7am on Monday, according to the district administration’s report cited by the Times of India. Kinnakorai recorded the highest rainfall at 110mm, followed by Kotagiri at 68mm, Burliar at 59mm and Yedappalli at 54mm.
The previous 24-hour period, ending on Sunday morning, saw the district record 453.9mm of rainfall. Parsons Valley received 52mm during that period, when officials reported 62 landslips and 28 tree falls. The latest damage assessment listed 43 uprooted trees, 18 damaged revetments and partial damage to 18 huts.
Three people, including two men and a woman, sustained injuries in rain-related incidents. The administration’s daily bulletin recorded no fatalities, but a landslide on the Coonoor–Mettupalayam road on the Coimbatore district side reportedly killed a government bus driver on Friday night.
Highways teams from Coimbatore and the Nilgiris have deployed eight earthmovers to clear mud, boulders and fallen trees from the Coonoor–Mettupalayam Road. Workers are placing sandbags along fragile slopes to reduce soil erosion, while geology experts inspect high-risk locations to assess their structural stability.
Traffic restrictions are in force at the Kallar check post on the Mettupalayam Road. Only emergency, rescue and relief vehicles are being allowed towards Coonoor and Udhagamandalam. Other vehicles have been diverted through the Mettupalayam–Kotagiri route, while night travel on the affected stretch has been suspended between 6pm and 6am.
The disruption has also affected the Nilgiri Mountain Railway. Train services between Mettupalayam and Udhagamandalam have been cancelled for three days from October 27 to 29. The railway route, which serves both residents and visitors, will remain unavailable during the cancellation period while authorities deal with the weather-related disruption.
District officials have ordered constant surveillance of vulnerable slopes, adequate stocks of sandbags and power transformers, and readiness for evacuations. Senior officials inspected restored sections at Thalaiyattimund and Kundah, while joint inspections were ordered in Balacola. Restoration work and slope monitoring remain the administration’s immediate response as heavy rain continues to affect the hill district.
