Kottayam: Rescue personnel and people during a rescue operation following a landslide due to rain triggered floods, in Kottayam, Kerala, Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026. At least four people were killed while several others were rescued. (PTI Photo)(PTI08_01_2026_000267A)

Kochi: As people in Pathanamthitta grappled with flash floods, rainfall data showed that the Pamba river basin received nearly 20cm of rain within hours between Friday night and Saturday morning. Kerala State Electricity Board data showed the Pamba dam area recorded 19 cm of rain, while Moozhiyar received 21.9cm and the Kakki-Anathode reservoir 24cm.Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) officials said these totals were recorded over a 12-hour period, between 10pm on Friday and 8am on Saturday, reflecting the intensity of the downpour that caused the Pamba to overflow.Vadasserikkara, a village in the Ranni block, recorded the highest rainfall in the state during the period at 36cm. “When extremely heavy rain such as 36cm falls within a short duration, people must move to safer locations as rivers can swell rapidly. Construction is prohibited on river poramboke land, yet many continue to build houses close to riverbanks, putting lives and property at risk,” a senior KSDMA official said, adding that greater disaster awareness was essential.The widespread rain was triggered by a depression over the Bay of Bengal that weakened after moving inland, an offshore trough extending from south Gujarat to Kerala, and strong low-level westerly winds that continue to bring moisture over the state.India Meteorological Department said heavy rain is likely to continue till Sunday and issued an orange alert for all districts except Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram.The latest spell also narrowed Kerala’s seasonal rainfall deficit. The shortfall declined from 34% on Friday to 30% on Saturday for the period from June 1 to August 1.