Nilgiris Mudslides: Ooty Roads Shut, Bus Driver Killed Near Burliar

Mud, rocks and uprooted trees buried a Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation bus near Burliar on the Ooty–Mettupalayam road around midnight on Friday, 23 October, killing its driver and injuring the conductor, after the Nilgiris district received up to 25 cm of rain overnight. Police and fire officials said no passengers were on board; three had got off shortly before Burliar. Mudslides at about seven places blocked the main hill roads, Revenue Minister K A Sengottaiyan said.

Night Traffic Barred, Tourist Spots Closed

Vehicles are barred on the Nilgiris ghat roads from 6 pm to 7 am, and Collector Lakshmi Bhavya Tanneeru has closed all tourist spots until further notice. She has asked tourists to put off trips for three days and avoid the Mettupalayam, Coonoor and Kotagiri routes. Police stopped Ooty-bound buses at Mettupalayam, more than 200 vehicles were stranded on the highway, and Nilgiri Mountain Railway services were cancelled. Schools in the district were shut on Saturday.

More than 100 Kerala students on excursion buses were stuck about 300 metres behind the slide; they were moved to Mettupalayam and given food and shelter, Minister V Sampath Kumar said. One Kottayam school group of 78 students and eight teachers had to cross the debris with ropes. The district helpline is 1077.

Also read Very Heavy Rain Likely in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry Till October 22

25 cm at Burliar in One Night

Burliar recorded 25 cm of rain, Kil Kotagiri Estate 20 cm and Coonoor 17 cm. The Regional Meteorological Centre in Chennai had put the Nilgiris on red alert for Saturday. A hotel retaining wall collapsed at Theetukkal in Ooty, damaging two cars and six two-wheelers, and slides were also reported on the Kodaikanal and Bodimettu ghat roads. Two NDRF teams from the force’s Fourth Battalion were sent to Ooty at the state’s request.

Rain Belt Continues Into Monday

A low over the southeast Arabian Sea is driving the rain, and IMD has red alerts in neighbouring Kerala for 25 and 26 October, with heavy rain in Tamil Nadu until 26 October. Earthmovers were clearing the highways on Saturday; officials have not given a date for reopening the roads to night traffic. Earlier: Tamil Nadu rain alerts for 24 October.

Source: Based on reporting by The Tribune / PTI, Onmanorama, Punjab Kesari / IANS and DT Next.

Image: Manorama.