Kerala rains 2026: festive bustle makes way for eerie silence in Ranni
Half-open shutters, heaps of mud, waterlogged furniture and ruined merchandise stand as grim reminders of the flash flood that ripped through the town
Ranni, a town near Onam, witnessed a sudden and unexpected flash flood on July 31, 2026, during festivities, leaving a trail of destruction. The narrow market streets, usually bustling with shoppers, lay in ruins with shops devastated and traders left shattered. The disaster, described as the worst since 2018, caused an estimated loss of several crores, as hundreds of shops suffered damage.
The local Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samiti is assessing the losses, and residents compare the current calamity to the devastating floods of 2018. A landslide inside the Angamoozhy forests is suspected to have triggered the flood. K.C. Jacob, whose family-owned petrol pump has been shut since 1946, laments the loss of his fuel dispensers and the uncertainty surrounding fuel stock.
Businessman Ranju Ravi has resorted to hiring workers to clean his inundated buildings, risking a month's rent loss. Many traders accuse authorities of failing to warn of the flash flood, despite issuing repeated alerts post-flood. A local government employee alleges the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA)'s delayed response as callous.
In response, traders are planning to establish a localised flood alert network centered on the town's mosque, church, and temple, using bells to issue early warnings. The MLA promises flood-mitigation measures within three months, focusing on restoring the Valiyathodu and desilting the Pampa and Valiyathodu rivers to improve their flow.
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