Mullaperiyar dam opened; Idukki and Theni face rain havoc 

The intensifying northeast monsoon claimed its first life in Kerala’s mountainous Idukki district on Sunday (October 19, 2025), as intense overnight rain inundated roads and homes, swept away parked vehicles, and triggered mudslides. Traffic came to a halt while powerlines and mobile phone networks were also hit.

The intense rain also wreaked havoc in Tamil Nadu’s Theni district bordering Idukki, with traffic being affected on the district’s Kumali inter-State ghat road due to a mudslide.

With water being released from the Mullaperiyar reservoir into the Periyar river since Saturday, villages along the river in Kerala reported flooding. At 7 p.m. on Sunday, the water level in the dam stood at 139.15 ft. The inflow into the dam was around 9,521 cusecs and outflow was around 8,551 cusecs, officials said.

The Kerala government had warned residents living downstream of the Mullaperiyar dam to exercise caution.

Shaji Kurishumood, a resident of Vallakadavu, abutting the banks of the Periyar, said the release of water from the Mullaperiyar dam had inundated at least five homes in the locality. Residents at Ayyappancovil, Vikas Nagar, Karruppupalam, Manjumala, Aatooram, Kadashikkadavu and Vandiperiyar were also facing flooding. 

First causality in Idukki

The rain also claimed the life of Parappallil Thomas alias Thankachan, 66, who was killed when his two-wheeler was caught under falling debris on the Kumily-Anavilasom-Kattappana road near Vellaramkunnu.

Idukki’s Kumily panchayat was among the worst hit, with neighbourhoods in Onnam Mile, Atta Palam, Kumily town, Periyar Colony, Chelimala, Valiyakandan and Anavachal reporting flooding.

A resident, Jaison Thekkady, told The Hindu that the rising floodwater surprised scores of residents, forcing them to move to upper floors or houses of relatives on higher ground.

The rain also disrupted traffic along the Gudalloor-Kozhikode road passing through Manimoola in the Malappuram district. The heavy spell caused the water levels to rise significantly in the Karakodam, Kalakkad and Athithode Rivers in the district. 

Overnight rains also caused minimal flooding in Kochi, inconveniencing early morning commuters, including two-wheeler riders. 

Kerala Revenue Minister K. Rajan requested citizens to exercise caution and avoid driving during the night along hilly routes till October 24. He said the latest spell of intense rain appeared isolated and not widespread, as was the case in 2018 and 2019. 

The government had warned fisherfolk from venturing into sea after the IMD forecast choppy littoral waters. 

Man washed away in T.N.

In Tirunelveli district in Tamil Nadu, Ramachandran, 49, was reportedly washed away in a flash flood when he was crossing a causeway at Anaithalaiaaru with two of his relatives on a two-wheeler on Friday night. A search was under way. In Theni, the Tamil Nadu Forest Department declared the Suruli waterfalls off limits for tourists.  Former Chief Minister O. Paneerselvam and his son, O.P. Raveendranath, toured the storm-hit localities in Theni.