Repeated mudslide incidents on Kochi-Dhanushkodi NH raises concern over trips to Munnar

Published 7 July 2026 · general

A major crack that developed near the Munnar CSI Church on the Kochi-Dhanushkodi Highway is raising safety concerns for those travelling to the Munnar hill

A major crack that developed near the Munnar CSI Church on the Kochi-Dhanushkodi Highway is raising safety concerns for those travelling to the Munnar hill station. The crack developed in front of a priest’s house on Saturday (July 4, 2026) evening, prompting officials to block vehicles on the Munnar-Adimaly route. Following the incident, Idukki District Collector Dineshan Cheruvattu urged tourists to avoid travelling to Munnar due to the high risk of further mudslides along the highway. “To prevent mudslides and other tragedies, the Public Works Department was directed to remove six trees in the area. The trees have now been removed. However, to permanently prevent mudslides on this section of the highway, an embankment needs to be constructed on the side of the road,” Idukki Deputy Collector Binu Joseph said.

Crucial road The national highway is a crucial road connecting the region, and the officials said that it could not be kept closed for extended periods. “An expert team led by a geologist visited the area and found that the ground where the house is situated is no longer stable,” the official added. On Tuesday (July 7, 2026), a team of officials—including the Hazard Analyst and the Devikulam Subcollector—inspected the affected site. Authorities announced that the roadblock will continue until Thursday (July 9, 2026), with repair work expected to be completed in time to reopen the stretch for traffic on Friday. Previous incidents However, recurring mudslides on the Kochi-Dhanushkodi Highway continue to pose a severe threat to tourists and regular passengers.

On October 25, 2025, a major mudslide at Koompanpara, near Adimaly, claimed one life and seriously injured another. Twenty-seven houses in the area pose serious threat from possible landslides, and a promised compensation package has not yet been fully implemented. Furthermore, during the widening of the Munnar-Bodimettu stretch, over a dozen landslips occurred along the Gap Road. Last year, two major mudslides near the Botanical Garden claimed the life of a driver. Business affected Local businesses are growing worried about the fallout. A tourism stakeholder in Munnar stated that unscientific road-widening works are to blame for the recurring tragedies. Dileep Pottankulam, president of the Munnar Hotel and Resort Association, said: “the authorities’ request to people to avoid travel to Munnar will severely impact the tourism sector.