Nilambur flash flood: body of missing woman found

The body of 26-year-old Sajita, the last person missing after Sunday’s flash flood in the Kottapuzha river at Amarambalam, Nilambur, was recovered by Tuesday midday, bringing the search to an end.

Sajita, a resident of T.K. Colony, Amarambalam, was swept away by a sudden rise in the water level while washing clothes on Sunday evening. Her body was found at around 12.20 p.m. on Tuesday near a footbridge behind a school at Antonykkad, Amarambalam.

With the recovery of Sajita, the bodies of all six people who were swept away in the flood have been recovered. Two bodies were found on Sunday and three on Monday.

The search for Sajita continued for three days, with teams covering the river and nearby forest areas. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel, Fire and Rescue Services, police, forest officials, volunteers and local residents took part in the search. Teams covered rocky stretches and other difficult areas along the river, using drones.

NDRF members searching a rock crevice for the missing woman in the Kottapuzha river on Tuesday.
| Photo Credit:
SAKEER HUSSAIN

The terrain made the search difficult. The Kottapuzha river passes through forest and rocky areas, with granite boulders and narrow stretches along its course. Gaps between rocks also made it difficult for teams to cover the riverbed.

The five people whose bodies were recovered earlier were identified as Parannaparamban Mohammed Kutty, 65, Mangadan Anas, 27, Srambikkal Raheem, 35, Kuppanath Sajjad, 23, and Kuruppath Rafeek, 41.

The flash flood occurred on Sunday evening after rain in the forests upstream, causing a sudden rise in the water level. Dozens of people were stranded in the river during the incident. Local residents and forest staff helped bring those trapped to safety.

Revenue Minister A.P. Anilkumar, who oversaw the search, said the recovery of Sajita’s body marked the end of the operation. He thanked the NDRF, Fire and Rescue Services, police, forest and revenue officials, volunteers, elected representatives and local residents who took part in the search.

Sajita’s body was taken to Government District Hospital, Nilambur, for post-mortem examination. The Cabinet, which is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, is expected to consider financial assistance for the families of those who died in the incident.