Flash flood in the Kottapuzha river at Nilambur kills five
20 September 2026
A flash flood struck the Kottapuzha river at TK Colony near Pookkottumpadam in Nilambur, Malappuram district, at about 5 pm on Sunday, 20 September 2026.
The river there separates the Chokkad and Amarambalam panchayats and was crowded with holiday visitors.
There was no rain at the spot; the water rose after heavy rain in the forested areas upstream.
Six people were swept away. Two bodies were recovered on Sunday night and three more on Monday morning, taking the toll to five.
A local woman, Sajitha, who was washing clothes on the bank, remained missing on Monday.
The NDRF, Fire and Rescue Services and local residents resumed the search on Monday morning.
In plain words
NDRF National Disaster Response Force — The specialised central force for disaster rescue and relief.
Flash flood — A sudden, short-lived rise in water caused by intense rain over a small area or upstream.