The Kerala government has announced a state mourning for two days (30-31 July) after the landslide incident. The death toll in the landslide that occurred after heavy rains in Wayanad, Kerala has risen to 151. 116 are in the hospital, while more than 220 people are reported missing. This landslide occurred late Monday night in Mundakkai, Choorlammala, Attamala and Noolpuzha villages. Houses, bridges, roads and vehicles were washed away in it. Army, Air Force, SDRF and NDRF teams are engaged in rescue in the affected areas. By late night, one thousand people had been rescued from the debris. The rescue operation was stopped at night, which has been resumed in the morning. On Tuesday, 225 army personnel were sent from Kannur to Wayanad. 2 Air Force helicopters were also sent for rescue, but due to rain they had to return to Kozhikode. Due to continuous rain, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi have canceled their visit to Wayanad. They were going to meet the victims here on Wednesday. The Meteorological Department has issued a heavy rain alert in 5 districts including Wayanad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad Kannur and Kasaragod on Wednesday, while a yellow alert has been issued in Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur and Palakkad districts. After the accident, two days of state mourning has been declared in the state. Holiday has been declared on 30 July in schools and colleges in 12 districts. Kerala University has postponed all examinations to be held on 30 and 31 July. New dates will be announced later. Mundakkai village of Wayanad has been most affected due to the landslide.
The bridge connecting Choorlamala to Mundakkai has been washed away, making it difficult to reach the area. About 250 people are reported to be stranded in Mundakkai. Many houses have been washed away here, in which 65 families lived. 35 employees of a nearby tea estate are also missing. Tourists have been banned from visiting all tourist places in Kozhikode district. Apart from this, all granite mines have been asked to be temporarily closed. Landslides have occurred in 4 villages of Wayanad – Mundakkai, Choorlamala, Attamala and Noolpuzha. 5 years ago in 2019, due to heavy rains, landslides occurred in these villages, in which 17 people died. 5 people are still missing. 52 houses were destroyed.
Foreigners Rescued
District Panchayat President Samshad Maraikkar said that Mundakkai cannot be reached by road. Mobile network is also down. There is more damage in Choorlamala village as well. Rescue is going on here. Many houses have been washed away here. Many people have been rescued, including two foreign nationals. They were staying in a homestay. Here the rescue team is checking each house.
Helpline Numbers
After the Wayanad landslide, the Health Department has set up a control room. Also, two helpline numbers 8086010833 and 9656938689 have been issued. Kerala Health Minister’s Office has said that a temporary hospital has been set up in a mosque and madrasa to treat the injured in Choorlamala, Wayanad. The Center announced compensation.. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured the Kerala government of all possible help from the Center. Also, a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each was announced to the families of the deceased. The injured will be given Rs 50,000. At the same time, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has appealed to the government to provide all possible help on the Wayanad incident. After the landslide, water and debris came from both sides of the mountain and swept away everything. After the accident, the village looked like a river. There was water, mud and debris everywhere. Many people were sent to safe places by helicopter.The rescue team took the affected people to safe places. Army personnel are evacuating people trapped in the village with the help of ropes. Due to the landslide, houses, trees and vehicles were washed away and stranded here and there. The rescue team took the affected people to safe places. NDRF and Kerala Disaster Rescue Force are engaged in evacuating people from the debris. The rescue team is taking out the dead bodies and taking them across the river with the help of cables. The army started rescue operations in the 4 affected villages..
Victims’ Crying
The woman said crying, Nausheen got stuck in the swamp: A woman from Churlamla village said, ‘Someone in the house is trapped in the debris and could not be taken out. Please someone come and help us. We have lost our house. We don’t know if Nausheen is alive or not. She is stuck in the swamp. Our house is in the city.’ Victim said- My house is still shaking: Another resident of the village of Choorlamala told on the phone, ‘Their house is still shaking. The earth is shaking.
