Kerala floods 2026: Pathanamthitta reels under floods as torrential rain pounds district
Heavy torrential rains have triggered flash floods and landslips in Kerala's Pathanamthitta district, causing widespread inundation and cutting off access to Ranni town. Local authorities have initiated rescue operations, opened relief camps, and issued travel warnings as river levels continue to rise.
Why it matters
The flooding highlights the increasing vulnerability of high-range regions to extreme weather events, necessitating urgent disaster management and infrastructure resilience planning.
Several parts of Pathanamthitta district were hit by a flood-like emergency on Saturday after an unexpected spell of extremely heavy rain lashed the region from Friday evening, triggering flash floods, landslips and widespread inundation.
The district received intermittent rain through Friday before the downpour intensified overnight. Around 300 mm of rainfall was recorded in the Sabarimala forests, leading to a sharp rise in runoff and swelling rivers. The intense rain also triggered a series of landslips and soil slips in high-range areas, including Thannithodu. Vadasserikkara recorded 339 mm of rainfall in the 24 hours ending Saturday morning.
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