Heavy Rains Trigger Seven New Landslips and Disrupt Traffic in the Nilgiris

Heavy rainfall battering the hill district of The Nilgiris caused seven new landslips and uprooted 15 trees during the 24-hour period ending at 7 a.m. on Monday, October 26, 2026.

Rainfall and Damage

The district administration reported a total rainfall of 734.5 mm with an average of 23.69 mm. Kinnakorai in Kundah taluk experienced the heaviest downpour with 110 mm, while Kotagiri recorded 68 mm. Moderate rain fell across 14 other monitoring stations, including Burliar at 59 mm, Yedappalli at 54 mm, and Kodanadu at 42 mm. Three people—two men and one woman—sustained injuries in mishaps linked to the weather, and three huts suffered partial damage. This followed an even heavier spell ending Sunday morning when the region logged 62 landslips from a cumulative total of 453.9 mm of rain.

Official Response and Relief

District Collector Lakshmi Bhavya Tanneeru declared a holiday for all schools in Udhagamandalam, Coonoor, Kotagiri, and Kundah taluks on Monday. Authorities established four relief camps in schools and community halls to shelter residents affected by the weather hazards. On Sunday evening, officials shifted 65 people, including tribal residents from three to four hamlets near Burliyar and Katteri, to a camp at St. Antony's Higher Secondary School in Coonoor due to lightning strikes. While these residents will remain in the camps for the next few days, some returned briefly on Monday morning to feed their cattle and domestic animals.

Traffic and Repairs

A portion of the Mettupalayam-Udhagamandalam Road washed away near Burliyar within the Coimbatore district limits, forcing traffic between the Nilgiris and Coimbatore to take a detour via Kotagiri. Officials from the National Highways Department alongside geotechnical experts spent Monday inspecting the damage on the key route. The Collector stated that regular vehicle movement on this road will resume only after workers fully stabilise the damaged sections.

Context

The Nilgiris hill district is prone to heavy monsoon showers that frequently trigger landslips and tree falls, often disrupting vital road links to the plains. District administrations regularly set up temporary relief camps and divert traffic during severe weather spells to ensure public safety.