Waynad landslies | Rahul Gamdhi

Wayanad devastated by huge landslides; death toll goes to 56, hundreds missing!

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Massive landslides ruined destruction in Kerala’s Wayanad region, killing more than 56 people, including children, and leaving many families missing. Over 70 people are hospitalised.

Wayanad has been destroyed by three landslides that occurred in Meppadi, Mundakkai, and Chooral Mala within four hours. The first landslide occurred in Mundakkai town at 1 a.m. On Tuesday during heavy rain, destroying homes and families. While rescue attempts are underway, a second landslide occurred near Chooralmala School approximately 2 a.m. Later a third landslide occurred at about 4 a.m. Appealing sites known for their beauty, Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Noolpuzha, have now become lands of darkness.

KSDMA, Fireforce, two teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel, and two teams of Kannur Defence Security Corps have been sent for search and rescue operations. The rescue operations are facing hurdles since Mundakkai, where one of the major landslides occurred, has been cut off from the rest of the district after the single bridge to the area was swept away in the landslide.

Wayanad landslides | Rahul Gandhi Wayanad
NDRF Team in ongoing rescue operation in wayanad

Report on Wayanad Landslides

According to reports, over 400 households have been left trapped in the region as a result of the bridge collapse in Chooral Mala Town. This bridge provides the only entrance to Attamala in Mundakkai, and its collapse caused delays in rescue operations significantly.

Shamsad Marakkar, president of the Wayanad district panchayat, stated that no rescue teams have yet been able to reach Mundakkai due to the bridge collapse. He stated that a hospital in Mundakkai was completely swept away in the landslide. The NDRF is currently attempting to reach Mundakkai by crossing the river using ropes.

The government vocational higher secondary school in Vellarmala was partially collapsed and destroyed by the landslide. A field officer, assistant factory officer, their families, and eight estate workers from Harrisons Malayalam tea estate have gone missing.

Two Indian Air Force helicopters were unable to land in Mundakkai due to poor weather. The helicopters were dispatched from Sulur to assist with the rescue mission. A Navy team will shortly assist rescue operations in Wayanad, which has been destroyed by landslides. In response to the Chief Minister’s direction, the Navy’s River Crossing Team has been dispatched to assist for rescue operations.

A crew from the Ezhimala Naval Academy will travel to Wayanad to provide essential support, where at least 56 deaths have been verified.

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Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stated, “A delegation of five ministers has been assigned in Wayanad to deal with the aftermath of the recent landslide and oversee ongoing relief efforts.” Forest Minister AK Saseendran has already visited the damaged region to examine the damage and organize emergency reaction efforts.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday, following a big landslide in Wayanad. He promised them that the Centre would provide full support for rescue operations. According to sources, he also spoke with Union Minister Suresh Gopi about the current situation in Wayanad.

Source : X/Narendra Modi

The Prime Minister also spoke with BJP President JP Nadda and instructed him to ensure that BJP karyakartas do everything they can to help with the relief operations in Waynad. PM Modi has promised an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF to the next of kin of each person killed in the landslides in Wayanad. The injured would receive Rs 50,000.

Rahul Gandhi, the opposition leader in the Lok Sabha, extended his sympathies to the grieving families who lost loved ones. “I am really concerned about the large landslides at Meppadi in Wayanad. My sincere condolences are sent to the bereaved families who have lost dear ones. “I hope those who are still trapped are brought to safety soon,” he stated.

Some of visuals of Wayanad’s landslides has been shared on the X platform showing the current situation of Wayanad due to the heavy landslides.

 

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