Chennai: Torrential rain has battered Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiris district since Friday night, triggering landslides, disrupting road connectivity and forcing authorities to close tourist attractions. A government bus driver was killed after his vehicle, which was not carrying passengers, was caught in a landslide at Burliar on the Ooty–Mettupalayam road.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for the district on Saturday after exceptionally heavy rainfall was recorded across several areas. Burliar received nearly 25 cm of rain in a few hours, while other locations in the Nilgiris also reported intense downpours.
More than 300 people, including schoolchildren from Kerala who were on an educational tour, were stranded because of landslips at several locations. Rescue teams and local authorities worked to move stranded people to safety as road traffic remained severely affected.
The Nilgiris district administration also announced the closure of all tourist spots until further notice, asking residents and visitors to avoid unnecessary travel. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR), a major attraction in the region, was cancelled following landslides along its track.
Burliar landslide kills bus driver
The fatal incident occurred at Burliar along the Ooty–Mettupalayam road, where a government bus was caught in a landslide. The bus was travelling without passengers when the incident occurred, and the driver died.
The landslide disrupted traffic on the important road connecting the hill district with the plains. Landslips in several areas further complicated movement, leaving tourists and other travellers stranded.
Authorities arranged for stranded tourists to be brought to safety in Mettupalayam by Saturday evening. However, the continuing rainfall and forecasts of further downpours raised concerns about additional landslides and road blockages.
A resident rescued after a landslide at Burliar described the damage caused by the midnight downpour. According to the resident, the house he shared with his wife was washed away.
“Only my wife and I were at home. We could rescue her only after a great struggle. Both of us sustained injuries and are heading to the government hospital now,” he said.
The account highlighted the risks faced by people living in vulnerable locations as intense rainfall triggered landslides and damaged homes.
Coonoor and Kotagiri among the worst-hit areas
Coonoor and Kotagiri were among the worst-affected parts of the Nilgiris, with several locations recording exceptionally high rainfall in the 24 hours ending at 8.30 am on Saturday.
According to the rainfall figures provided in the report, Burliar recorded 25 cm, followed by Kotagiri Estate with 20 cm. Coonoor and Alakarai Estate received 17 cm each, while Kotagiri town recorded 14 cm.
Mettupalayam, located at the foothills of the Nilgiris, also received 16 cm of rain during the same period. The heavy downpour disrupted normal life across the region, affecting transport and access to several areas.
In Ooty, several cars were damaged after a retaining wall collapsed. Earth slips also cut off interior roads, making access to some locations difficult.
The combination of intense rainfall, unstable slopes and blocked roads posed challenges for rescue and relief operations. Authorities urged people to avoid unnecessary movement, particularly along routes vulnerable to landslides.
Tourist attractions shut, Nilgiri Mountain Railway cancelled
With heavy rain continuing across the hill district, Nilgiris District Collector Lakshmi Bhavya Taneeru announced that all tourist spots would remain closed until further notice.
The decision was taken amid concerns over public safety as landslides and earth slips affected roads and other infrastructure. Residents and tourists were advised to step out only when necessary.
The Nilgiri Mountain Railway service was also cancelled after landslides occurred along the track. The heritage railway is a popular attraction for visitors travelling through the hill region, but the disruption underscored the impact of extreme weather on transport infrastructure.
More than 300 people, including students from Kerala, were stranded in different parts of the district due to landslips. The authorities worked to facilitate their movement to safer locations, with stranded tourists reaching Mettupalayam by Saturday evening.
The administration’s restrictions on tourism and travel were intended to reduce exposure to hazardous conditions while emergency personnel continued their operations.
Tamil Nadu deploys NDRF and SDRF teams
The state government dispatched five disaster response teams to the Nilgiris to support local authorities. The deployment comprised two National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams from Arakkonam and three State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams from Chennai.
B. Chandra Mohan, Additional Chief Secretary and Commissioner of Revenue Administration, said the district had been experiencing heavy rainfall since the previous night and that forecasts indicated further rain over the next few days.
“Though local fire and rescue personnel are working non-stop, we have dispatched three SDRF and two NDRF teams with 60 personnel to the Nilgiris,” he told Deccan Herald.
He also said additional disaster response teams had been deployed to Coimbatore, Madurai, Theni and Dindigul in view of the heavy rainfall warnings.
The deployment was aimed at strengthening rescue and relief operations as local personnel responded to landslides, damaged infrastructure and stranded travellers. The possibility of continued rainfall meant emergency services had to remain prepared for further incidents.
Red alert for southern districts as rain continues
The impact of the weather extended beyond the Nilgiris. Kodaikanal, another popular hill station in Tamil Nadu, was also affected by heavy rainfall.
The IMD issued a red alert for Theni, Dindigul and Madurai districts for Sunday. It also forecast extremely heavy to heavy rainfall in the Nilgiris over the following days.
The state has been receiving widespread heavy rain since the previous week following the onset of the Northeast Monsoon, which is a major source of annual rainfall for Tamil Nadu.
The latest spell has brought disruption to hill districts, where steep terrain and vulnerable road sections can increase the danger of landslides during prolonged downpours. Damage to retaining walls, blocked interior roads and railway disruptions have added to the difficulties faced by residents and visitors.
Authorities urge caution amid continuing rainfall
With further rainfall forecast, the immediate focus remains on rescue operations, restoring access to affected areas and protecting residents and tourists from additional landslides.
The closure of tourist attractions and cancellation of the Nilgiri Mountain Railway are among the precautionary steps taken to limit public exposure to dangerous conditions. Disaster response teams have also been deployed to assist local personnel and support operations across affected districts.
The death of the bus driver and the damage reported in Burliar and other parts of the Nilgiris underline the dangers associated with intense rainfall in the hill region. Authorities have urged people to avoid unnecessary travel while the weather remains unsettled.
As the Northeast Monsoon continues to bring heavy rain to Tamil Nadu, residents in vulnerable areas and visitors to the hill stations are being asked to remain cautious and follow instructions issued by the district administration.