Copious rain triggers seven new landslips in Nilgiris

Persistent downpours over the hill district of The Nilgiris triggered seven new landslips and uprooted 15 trees in the 24-hour period ending at 7 a.m. on Monday (October 26, 2026), further disrupting normal life and road connectivity at some places.

According to rainfall data released by the district administration, the district recorded a total rainfall of 734.5 mm and average rainfall of 23.69 mm. Severe weather conditions battered several places. Kinnakorai in Kundah taluk (110 mm) and Kotagiri (68 mm) received heavy rain. A total of 14 rain gauge stations, including Burliar (59 mm), Yedappalli (54 mm) and Kodanadu (42 mm) recorded moderate rain. Two men and a woman suffered injuries in rain-related mishaps, including tree fall, and three huts were partially damaged.

The Nilgiris had recorded 62 landslips when the district received a cumulative total rainfall of 453.9 mm in the previous 24-hour period that ended on Sunday (October 25, 2026) morning.  

Holiday for schools

District Collector Lakshmi Bhavya Tanneeru announced holiday for all schools in Udhagamandalam, Coonoor, Kotagiri and Kundah taluks in the Nilgiris on Monday (October 26) owing to rain. 

Over 60 people shifted to relief camp

Ms. Thanneeru said four relief camps have been set up in schools and community halls to accommodate people, who get affected by rain, tree fall or landslip. A total of 65 people including tribals from three-four hamlets near Burliyar and Katteri were shifted to the relief camp set up at St. Antony’s Higher Secondary School, Coonoor, on Sunday (October 25) evening as the region had witnessed lightning strikes.

Ms. Tanneeru said they were shifted to the relief camp as a precautionary measure. They will stay at the camps for the next few days. Some of them went to their hamlets to feed cattle and domestic animals on Monday morning. 

Rain damage assessment, traffic

According to the Collector, officials from the National Highways Department and geotechnical experts were assessing the damages caused by landslips on Mettupalayam-Udhagamandalam Road on Monday.

The traffic between Nilgiris and Coimbatore is currently being diverted via Kotagiri as a portion of the road washed away near Burliyar in Coimbatore district limits on the Mettupalayam-Udhagamandalam Road that passes via Coonoor. “Vehicular traffic through the road can be allowed only after stabilising the damage” she added.