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.
River:
Kottapuzha
District:
Malappuram
Deaths:
5
Swept away:
6
Why it matters for exams: Flash floods caused by upstream rain in forested catchments are a recurring disaster-management topic for Kerala.
Kerala PSCUPSC
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.
21 September 2026
On 21 September 2026 the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast rain across Kerala until 25 September, with heavy rain in isolated places.
A low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal, a trough from the southeast Arabian Sea and a cyclonic circulation over central Tamil Nadu were driving the weather.
Yellow alerts were issued for several districts; a yellow alert indicates possible heavy rain of 7 to 11 cm in 24 hours.
A landslide at Kottakamboor in Vattavada, Idukki, on Sunday evening killed two people.
Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan ordered hourly assessments, and Disaster Management Authority Commissioner Vigneswari met the Collectors of Idukki and Kottayam.
Rain forecast till:
25 September 2026
Yellow alert rainfall:
7 to 11 cm in 24 hours
Vattavada landslide deaths:
2
Why it matters for exams: IMD colour-coded alerts and the weather systems behind Kerala's rain are standard geography and disaster-management questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
IMD India Meteorological Department — The national agency for weather forecasts and warnings.
Low-pressure area — A region of lower air pressure that draws in moist winds and brings rain.
21 September 2026
Kerala observed the 99th Mahasamadhi Day of Sree Narayana Guru on 21 September 2026.
Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan inaugurated the Maha Parinirvana conference at Sivagiri, organised by the Sree Narayana Dharma Sangham Trust.
The conference marked the start of the centenary observance of the Maha Parinirvana.
Trust president Swami Sachidananda was scheduled to preside over the function.
The Chief Minister paid floral tributes at the Guru's Samadhi and said the Guru planted the seeds of secularism and democratic values.
A separate Mahasamadhi Day conference was also scheduled at Sree Narayana Gurukulam, Chempazhanthy, the Guru's birthplace.
Observance:
99th Mahasamadhi Day
Venue:
Sivagiri
Organiser:
Sree Narayana Dharma Sangham Trust
Why it matters for exams: Sree Narayana Guru, Sivagiri and Chempazhanthy are core Kerala renaissance topics in PSC papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Mahasamadhi — The day a spiritual teacher's life ended, observed as a day of remembrance.
21 September 2026
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw met Members of Parliament from Kerala on 21 September 2026.
He said railway projects worth more than Rs 20,000 crore are under execution in Kerala.
Kerala's railway allocation is Rs 3,795 crore for 2026-27, against Rs 372 crore in 2014.
Of the 618 hectares of land needed for projects, only 78 hectares (13%) have been acquired; Railways has deposited Rs 1,976 crore with the State for land acquisition.
The sanctioned Angamali-Sabarimala new line is costed at Rs 3,801 crore.
The Kerala MPs sought a review of the decision to shift the Mangaluru area to the South Western Railway zone; the minister defended it on grounds of operational efficiency.
Projects under execution:
over Rs 20,000 crore
Allocation 2026-27:
Rs 3,795 crore
Land needed / acquired:
618 ha / 78 ha
Angamali-Sabarimala line:
Rs 3,801 crore
Why it matters for exams: Railway zones and divisions, the Angamali-Sabarimala line and land acquisition delays are recurring Kerala infrastructure questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Railway zone — The largest administrative unit of Indian Railways, made up of divisions.
21 September 2026
On 21 September 2026 the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said permission had not been denied to any film for screening at the 18th International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK).
The festival is organised in Thiruvananthapuram by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy.
The Academy had sought exemption from certification for 347 films, and most have been cleared.
The ministry said six films were asked for more detailed synopses and some were referred to sectoral authorities.
Exemptions for non-commercial festival screenings are given under Section 9 of the Cinematograph Act, 1952; films already certified by the CBFC need none.
Festival:
18th IDSFFK
Organiser:
Kerala State Chalachitra Academy
Films sought for exemption:
347
Legal provision:
Section 9, Cinematograph Act, 1952
Why it matters for exams: Film certification under the Cinematograph Act, 1952 and Kerala's state film festivals are frequent polity and culture questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
IDSFFK International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala — Kerala's annual festival of documentaries and short films.
CBFC Central Board of Film Certification — The statutory body that certifies films for public exhibition in India.
21 September 2026
In a statement on 21 September 2026, Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan said the UDF government had not changed its decision to discontinue the Loka Kerala Sabha in the form held by the previous LDF government.
He said not a single rupee had been allocated for the sixth edition of the Loka Kerala Sabha.
Funds have been allocated only for the LKS Secretariat's administrative costs and certain programmes, including a Business Leadership Meet run through NORKA.
He said expatriate welfare schemes are a top priority and funds have been allocated for initial work on them.
KPCC president and Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph called the change a 'right turn', not a U-turn.
Edition with no funds:
Sixth
Programme run via NORKA:
Business Leadership Meet
Why it matters for exams: The Loka Kerala Sabha and NORKA are Kerala's institutions for the diaspora and appear in governance questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
NORKA Non-Resident Keralites' Affairs — Kerala's department for the welfare of non-resident Keralites.
Loka Kerala Sabha — A forum bringing together representatives of the Kerala diaspora with legislators.
21 September 2026
Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan said on 21 September 2026 that Kerala will implement the Centre's new Labour Codes while protecting workers' rights.
He spoke at a leadership meeting of the Congress-affiliated INTUC in Thiruvananthapuram.
He said the codes cannot be left unimplemented because Parliament passed them, and they replaced the earlier labour laws.
The four Labour Codes, announced by the Centre in November 2025, consolidate 29 existing labour laws.
The government will consider INTUC's suggestions during implementation; INTUC state president R. Chandrasekharan attended.
Labour Codes:
4
Laws consolidated:
29
Announced:
November 2025
Why it matters for exams: The four Labour Codes and labour as a Concurrent List subject that States must implement are standard polity and economy questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
INTUC Indian National Trade Union Congress — The trade union wing affiliated to the Congress party.
Labour Codes — Four central laws that merged 29 older labour laws on wages, industrial relations, social security and safety.
21 September 2026
On 21 September 2026, Devaswom Minister K. Muraleedharan criticised the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) over a shortage of aravana payasam at the Sabarimala Ayyappa shrine.
Aravana, made from red rice, jaggery and ghee, is offered as prasadam at Sabarimala.
The minister said the shortage occurred because the manufacturing plant was being renovated and that the work should have been done while the temple was closed; the TDB has said the renovation was being done now to prevent problems during the pilgrimage season.
He said 'The government cannot sit idle' and action would follow after discussions with the Chief Minister.
The government is considering informing the Kerala High Court and, with the court's permission, appointing a special team for the Mandalakala-Makaravillakku pilgrimage.
Shrine:
Sabarimala Ayyappa shrine
Board:
Travancore Devaswom Board
Cause of shortage:
Plant renovation
Why it matters for exams: The Travancore Devaswom Board, Sabarimala administration and the High Court's oversight role are recurring Kerala governance topics.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
TDB Travancore Devaswom Board — The statutory board that manages Sabarimala and other temples of the former Travancore State.
Aravana — A sweet offering of red rice, jaggery and ghee given as prasadam at Sabarimala.
20 September 2026
Cardiologist Dr G. Vijayaraghavan died in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, 20 September 2026, aged 84.
A native of Perumpuzha in Kollam, he took his MBBS from Thiruvananthapuram Medical College in 1964.
He researched endomyocardial fibrosis, a heart disease common in Kerala.
He and his team set up the first 2D echocardiography laboratory at Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram.
He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2009 and was vice-chairman of KIMS Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram.
Age:
84
Padma Shri:
2009
Research:
Endomyocardial fibrosis
Why it matters for exams: Padma award winners from Kerala and medical firsts are regular persons-in-news questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Echocardiography — An ultrasound scan that shows the structure and movement of the heart.
20 September 2026
Calicut FC defender Rijohn Jose, 29, died after a road accident on the Gandhi Road flyover in Kozhikode on Sunday night, 20 September 2026.
Another motorcycle collided with the bike on which he and teammate Gani Ahammed Nigam were riding.
He suffered severe chest injuries and could not be saved; Gani Ahammed Nigam was under treatment.
Rijohn, from Olloor in Thrissur, was part of the Calicut FC squad that won the inaugural Super League Kerala trophy in 2024.
He had also played for George Telegraph SC and FC Deccan.
Club:
Calicut FC
Age:
29
Inaugural Super League Kerala title:
2024
Why it matters for exams: The Super League Kerala and its first champions are a Kerala sports question.
Kerala PSCUPSC