Massive Landslide Strikes Punalur's Pachayil Mountain, Wreaks Havoc on Farmlands

Anusha Paul

Published on Oct 13, 2025, 02:09 PM | 2 min read

Kollam: A devastating landslide reportedly occurred last night on the Pachayil mountain near Pinnacle Point in ward 14 of Karakulam Panchayat, in Kollam district, collapsing over an estimated stretch of about one kilometre and leaving a swath of destruction across agricultural lands.

The incident, which took place around 9:00 p.m., triggered widespread panic among residents. Several locals reported hearing a thunderous roar followed by ground tremors. “It was as if the mountain cracked open. Everything trembled,” recalled one survivor.

According to residents, the slide swept downhill for over a kilometre, uprooting trees, stripping away topsoil, and levelling extensive areas of cultivated land. Farms growing rubber, bananas, pepper, and seasonal crops were among the worst affected. Though no houses sustained damage, several stood within 50 metres of the debris path.

“Some people heard the sound but could not immediately tell what was happening. By morning, the land was unrecognisable,” said Rakesh, a resident of the affected area.

Local frustration has grown over the lack of response from authorities. Residents said that no officials from Karakulam Panchayat, which is under the Congress led United Democratic Front (UDF) leadership, had arrived at the site by the late afternoon.

“The first to reach were the people and CPIM workers. They helped assess the situation and pushed for the Geological Department and other relevant authorities to be informed,” said Rakesh another resident, adding that farmers are now awaiting expert evaluation of the site.

As of Monday, formal assessments of the extent of the damage and the vulnerability of the affected slope were underway, given the scale and severity of the landslide.

Geo-technical experts observe that the midland regions of Kerala, including Karakulam, are inherently prone to slope instability due to their geological makeup—characterised by lateritic soils, deeply weathered rock profiles, and steep terrain gradients.

Climatological studies further indicate that the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme precipitation events in the Western Ghats are closely linked to changing monsoonal dynamics driven by global climate change. The resulting rise in soil moisture saturation reduces shear strength in slope materials, significantly increasing the likelihood of slope failure.