Wayanad: The toll in multiple landslides caused by heavy rain in Kerala’s Wayanad touched 84 on Tuesday with hundreds still feared trapped under mud and debris.
About 116 had been reported to be injured so far, cited reports from Kerala Revenue Minister’s office.
Meanwhile, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has announced a statewide mourning for two days – July 30-31.
Indian Army, Air Force, Navy in action
The Indian Army column had reached the landslide site at Chooralmala by noon. Using ropes, soldiers are being ferried across the river, which is in spate, to assist and carry out rescue efforts in Ward No. 10 of Chooralmala.
Indian Air Force has deployed one each MI-17 and ALH Dhruv choppers for rescue and relief operations in coordination with Kerala government. Indian Navy team from Ezhimala Base will also assist in rescue operations.
Besides, 250 members of Fire and Rescue, Civil Defence, NDRF and other emergency rescue forces are working at Churalmala to rescue the stranded people.
IMD Red Alert Continues
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall in Kerala until July 31. A red alert has been issued for Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasargod districts. Additionally, there is also an orange alert for Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Ernakulam districts on July 30.
PM announces ex-gratia for kin of deceased
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia to the kin of deceased and spoke to Kerala Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, assuring all possible help.
The landslides occurred between 2 am and 4 am and primarily impacted Mundakai and Chooralmala. Reports claimed about 150 people were stuck at Tree Valley Resort in Meppadi. The resort had given shelter to some locals during last night’s heavy rain. The stranded people are facing a shortage of food. Landslides have struck the area, with debris falling on top of at least 40 houses, the resort staff told media. Rescue teams were unable to reach the affected homes there, reports further said.
Reports claimed many people were feared washed away in the Chaliyar River in Malappuram. Several houses, shops and vehicles are buried under the debris in Mundakkai. A bridge to the spot has been washed away. This has further complicated the rescue efforts. The Kerala Health Department has opened a control room and has released an emergency contact number in the wake of the landslides and other rain-related disasters.
Declare it to be a national disaster: Opposition MPs
Several Opposition Rajya Sabha MPs raised the Wayanad tragedy in the House on Tuesday. They demanded that it be declared a national disaster. Kerala CPI(M) MP, John Brittas, demanded that the central disaster management forces be deployed in the state ‘immediately’ to carry out rescue and relief work.
The MPs reportedly said more than 500 families were trapped due to the landslides. They claimed the bodies of some victims were being retrieved far from their homes. In some cases, entire families had been wiped out. They demanded financial aid of Rs 5,000 crore. Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said, “The whole House in one voice is with them. The entire country has converged all agencies to help out the people in distress.” He added that the PM and the CM were both alert. Leader of Opposition and former Wayanad MP, Rahul Gandhi, addressed Lok Sabha on the issue, claiming that the death toll is over 70.
Earlier, he had directed local leaders to help conduct the rescue operations. “I am deeply anguished by the massive landslides near Meppadi in Wayanad…I have spoken to the Kerala Chief Minister and the Wayanad District Collector, who assured me that rescue operations are underway….” he wrote on X.
