In the pre-dawn hours of Wednesday, a Kerala State Road Transportation Corporation (KSRTC) bus carrying passengers from Coimbatore to Wayanad narrowly avoided a catastrophic accident. A large boulder, dislodged by relentless heavy rains, crashed into the front of the bus near Kurumbadi on the Udhagamandalam-Coonoor road.
The Nilgiris district has been battered by severe weather, with Coonoor and its surrounding rural areas recording approximately 40 mm of rainfall by Wednesday morning. This intense downpour caused the massive rockfall, which thankfully resulted only in damage to the vehicle, sparing its occupants.
Emergency response teams, including fire and rescue services, quickly arrived at the scene. They ensured all passengers were safely transferred to an alternative bus to continue their journeys, a testament to swift coordination in the face of natural hazards.
Separate Incident: Railway Wall Collapse
Compounding the district’s rain-related woes, a newly constructed wall at the Coonoor railway station also succumbed to the heavy rains. Fortunately, the incident occurred while the station was unoccupied, preventing any injuries.
Across the Nilgiris, an average of 31 mm of rain was recorded by Wednesday morning, with significant rainfall reported in Kodanadu, Kotagiri, and Kundah, in addition to Coonoor. With further heavy rains anticipated, authorities are meticulously inspecting landslide-prone areas to safeguard local residents. Fire and rescue personnel, alongside highway department officials, remain on high alert, prepared to clear road blockages and respond to any other rain-induced emergencies.