Two major landslips hit Munnar in Idukki; one dies

Two major landslips occurred near the old Government College near Munnar hill station on the Kochi-Danushkodi National Highway (NH) on Saturday night and early on Sunday (July 26 and 27, 2025). According to the Revenue Department officials, the first landslip occurred at around 10 p.m. on Saturday. A moving lorry was trapped under the debris and thevehicle driver Ganeshan (58), a resident of Munnnar Anthoniyar Nager, died and helper Murukan (50) sustained injuries.

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Devikulam sub-Collector V.M. Jayakrishnan told The Hindu that another major landslip occurred at the same spot at around 5 a.m. on Sunday (July 27, 2025). “A large amount of soil fell from the spot of the old government college and filled he road. The soil and rocks that filled the road are around 20 metes wide and one metre high,” the official said.

“To resume the traffic on the road, the soil and debris should be removed and it will take one or two days. It was directed to the officials of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to clear the soil and rock from the road. The NH authority informed us that they need to arrange for excavators to remove the soil from the Highway. Meanwhile, the NHAI engineer informed us that there is a higher chance of another mudslide at the spot. The debris clearing works will begin while considering the weather conditions in the area,” Mr. Jayakrishnan said.

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The official further stated that the district administration had temporarily suspended traffic on the Munnar-Bodimettu stretch of the Highway through Devikulam until further notice.

According to the Revenue Department officials, the Munnar hill station has witnessed hefty rainfall for the past several days. According to the Idukki district administration, Munnar, including Devikulam Thaluk, has received 150 mm of rainfall over the past 24 hours. The Idukki district administration on Saturday (July 26, 2025) suspended the roadside parking on Sunday (July 27, 2025) on the Gap Road stretch of the Highway.

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In the August 2018 floods, the area witnessed a major landslip, which damaged a building at the Government Arts College that was in operation there. The college building was destroyed when a portion of the hill behind it caved in on August 16, 2018. Following the incident, the college was shifted to another site. The latest mudslide poses a security threat to another building on the former college campus.