Boulder from cliff damages bus near Coonoor during heavy rain

Passengers on a Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus had a narrow escape after a rock dislodged from the cliff face and hit the vehicle near Kurumbadi along the Udhagamandalam-Coonoor road in the early hours of Wednesday, October 15, 2025.

The incident occurred during heavy rains in the district on Tuesday night, October 14, and Wednesday morning. According to officials, around 40 mm of rainfall was recorded in Coonoor and Coonoor rural area till Wednesday morning.

A rock dislodged by heavy rain hit the front of a government bus carrying passengers from Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu to Wayanad in Kerala, causing damage in the early hours of Wednesday.

First responders, including officials from the fire and rescue services, said the passengers were put on another bus and reached their destination.

wall collapse

In a separate incident, a portion of the wall being constructed at Coonoor railway station collapsed during heavy rains. Since the incident occurred when the train station was empty, there were no injuries.

According to officials, an average rainfall of 31 mm was recorded in the Nilgiris till Wednesday morning, while Kodanadu, Kotagiri, Kundah and Coonoor received heavy rainfall.

Authorities stated that with heavy rains expected in the Nilgiris, landslide-prone areas were taken under control to ensure the life safety of local people. Fire and rescue services personnel, as well as highway departments, were also on alert to clear road blockages and address other emergencies.