Heavy overnight rain triggers landslides, damages houses in Nilgiris, Coimbatore

A compound wall collapsed at a private resort in Theettukal near Udhagamandalam following heavy rain on Saturday, trapping a security guard who was later rescued. Two cars parked nearby were also damaged. Heavy rain across the Nilgiris and Coimbatore districts triggered multiple landslips and uprooted trees, disrupting traffic on key roads and damaging houses and vehicles.Burliyar in the Nilgiris recorded 250 mm of rainfall in the 24 hours ending at 7 a.m. on Saturday (October 24), followed by Kil Kotagiri with 200 mm. In Coimbatore district, Mettupalayam recorded the highest rainfall at 145 mm in the 24 hours ending at 7.30 a.m. on Saturday.The Nilgiris received a cumulative rainfall of 2,152.6 mm across 31 rain gauge stations, with a district average of 69.44 mm. Coimbatore recorded a cumulative 672.80 mm across 23 stations, with an average of 29.25 mm.The Nilgiris recorded 19 landslips and 18 incidents of fallen trees during the 24-hour period. Four huts suffered partial damage. No crop loss or damage to the electricity network was reported.Traffic on the Udhagamandalam–Coonoor–Mettupalayam road was suspended from 11 p.m. on Friday as a precaution against landslips and falling trees. Several stretches between Coonoor and Burliyar were affected, with debris and trees blocking the road at multiple locations.A TNSTC bus was hit by a landslip at Burliyar, killing its driver. Around 15 locations between Mettupalayam and Burliyar were reported to have been affected by landslips and uprooted trees.The Udhagamandalam–Kotagiri–Mettupalayam road was also blocked at around 15 locations. Small vehicles were allowed from 5 a.m. on Saturday, and traffic was fully restored around 11 a.m. after the Revenue and Highways departments cleared the debris.Traffic was also suspended on the alternative route to Udhagamandalam via Karamadai, Kethai and Manjoor following rockfalls.A 65-year-old security guard, Venkatesan, was rescued after a retaining wall at a private resort collapsed at Theettukal near Udhagamandalam on Saturday. Two cars parked nearby were completely damaged in the incident.The approximately 20-foot-high wall collapsed following heavy rain, trapping Venkatesan under the debris. Fire and Rescue Services personnel rushed to the spot and rescued him safely.In Kottakkambai near Kotagiri, four houses were reported to be in danger of collapse following heavy rain.Heavy rain also brought down four large trees, five small trees and branches of two other trees in Mettupalayam taluk. All the fallen trees were cleared.Two houses in Chikkadasampalayam and Karamadai suffered partial damage. Relief of ₹6,500 each has been earmarked for the affected households, totalling ₹13,000.The district administrations and departments concerned were coordinating response and restoration work in the rain-affected areas. Published - October 24, 2026 08:20 pm IST