More than 20 people have been killed in floods in southern India after heavy rains caused rivers to overflow, cutting off towns and villages.

Several houses were washed away and people became trapped in the district of Kottayam in Kerala state.

Video from the area showed bus passengers being rescued after their vehicle was inundated with floodwater.

Days of heavy rainfall in Kerala has caused deadly landslides and the Indian military has joined rescue efforts.

Helicopters have been used to fly in supplies and personnel to areas where people have been trapped under debris by the landslides, officials said on Sunday.

In one tragic incident, a family of six - including a 75-year-old grandmother and three children - were confirmed dead after their home in Kottayam was swept away, news agency PTI reported.

The bodies of another three children - aged eight, seven and four - were also found buried under the debris in Idukki district, where the search continued for at least five other missing people, the agency said.

Fishing boats are being used to evacuate survivors trapped in Kollam and other coastal towns, as sections of road have been swept away and trees uprooted.

Dozens of people have been reported missing and there are fears the death toll could rise further.

It is not uncommon for heavy rainfall to cause flooding and landslides in Kerala, where wetlands and lakes that once acted as natural safeguards against floods have disappeared because of increasing urbanisation and construction.

In 2018, some 400 people died and more than one million others were displaced by the worst flooding in Kerala in a century.

An assessment carried out by the federal government that same year found that the state, which has 44 rivers flowing through it, was among the 10 most vulnerable to flooding.

FLOODLIST:

According to India’s National Emergency Response Centre (NERC), all 14 districts in the state have been affected as of 17 October. A total of 5,223 people have been displaced and moved to 163 temporary relief camps. Emergency teams have rescued more than 800 people. As of 17 October, 23 fatalities were reported including 22 in landslides and 1 in flash floods.

Massive landslides struck in Kuttickal and Mundakkayam in Kottayam District and Kokkayar in Idukki District. Teams from India’s military and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed in affected areas for rescue and relief operations.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his condolences in a statement of 17 October. “It is saddening that some people have lost their lives due to heavy rains and landslides in Kerala. Condolences to the bereaved families,” the Prime Minister said.

Heavy rain began on 11 October 2021. In a 24 hour period to 12 October, Karipur recorded 255mm of rain, Kozhikode 216 mm and Kannur 166 mm. The rain continued across the state, worsening over the last 2 days with Kochi recorded 129 mm of rain in 24 hours to 17 October and Valparai 101 mm in 24 hours to 18 October.

As of 17 October, several rivers were flowing above the danger mark in the state, including the Manimala in Pathanamthitta district; the Kallada in Kollam; the Achankovil in Pathanamthitta; and the Karamana and Neyyar rivers in Thiruvananthapuram district. State Disaster Management Authority also reported dam levels were above the danger mark in at least 8 locations.

Reliefweb:
Heavy rain continues to affect the Himalayan State of Uttarakhand (northern India) and the neighbouring Nepal since 16 October, triggering several landslides and causing floods that have resulted in casualties and widespread damage. In Uttarakhand, the National Emergency Response Centre (NDMI) reports, as of 20 October, 52 fatalities, due to several landslides occurred on 18-19 October across a number of Districts. NDMI also reports five people missing, 17 injuries and 1,385 evacuated people throughout the affected Districts. National authorities have deployed 17 teams for rescue and relief operations throughout the affected area. (ECHO, 21 Oct 2021)