The ecologically fragile Nilgiris district in Tamil Nadu was hit by 62 landslips in the 24 hours ending at 7 a.m. on Sunday (October 25), following light to moderate rain across its seven taluks, according to official data from the district administration reported by The Hindu.

Source: The Hindu

The administration reported heavy damage to infrastructure: 15 huts were partly damaged and one hut fully collapsed, and 16 revetments — the protective structures that support slopes — were damaged across the district. The rain spell also damaged two high-tension poles, nine low-tension poles and one distribution transformer, and uprooted 28 trees.

Source: The Indian Witness

The district recorded cumulative rainfall of 453.9 mm during the 24-hour period, with an overall average of 14.64 mm. Ten of the district's 31 rain-gauge stations received moderate rain and the rest light rain, and Parsons Valley in Udhagamandalam taluk recorded the highest rainfall at 52 mm.

A landslip was also photographed along the Mettupalayam–Coonoor ghat section on Saturday, one of the main mountain roads linking the foothills with Coonoor and Udhagamandalam. The latest tally underlines how quickly repeated rain spells can destabilise slopes in the hill district, where steep terrain and vulnerable soil make roads, homes and power lines vulnerable even when individual landslips are described as minor.

The Nilgiris rain comes as the wider Tamil Nadu coast braces for a strengthening Bay of Bengal system, with cyclone warning signals already hoisted at nine ports and a five-day fishing ban in force.