Kerala floods and landslides kill at least seven

Torrential rains triggered widespread flooding and landslides across the southern Indian state of Kerala on Saturday, August 1, 2026, resulting in at least seven fatalities and forcing the evacuation of hundreds from inundated towns and villages. The central districts of Pathanamthitta, Idukki, and Kottayam were among the worst affected, with rescue operations ongoing for missing persons as authorities opened dozens of relief camps.

The intense rainfall, which began late Friday night and continued through Saturday, caused rivers to breach their banks and triggered multiple landslides. Officials confirmed that four of the deaths resulted from landslides in Kottayam and Idukki districts. In Kottayam, Regina Johnny and her 24-year-old son, Josephine, died when a landslide destroyed a portion of their house in Poonjar Thekkekara. In Idukki, a landslide at Adurmala killed 69-year-old Sumathy and buried her home. A separate landslide in Vagamon claimed the life of 72-year-old Prabhakaran Nair.

Three children drowned in separate incidents in Malappuram and Kottayam districts. Additionally, one person was electrocuted in Wayanad, and the body of a fisherman missing off the Kollam coast...