Landslides hit Malabar

Kozhikode: Torrential rains lashed Malabar resulting in the death of four people, widespread damage to properties, flash floods, landslides and traffic disruptions. Three people died in Wayanad and one person in Kannur.

A landslide that occurred on the slopes of Western Ghats atop Nilambur forests washed away a portion of an estate with labour quarters, a canteen, a mosque and a temple on Wednesday night. The rescue workers failed to reach the spot due to recurring landslides that caused the flash flood submerging parts of Nilambur on Thursday morning.

“We could not assess the casualties as none could reach the spot,” said Kalpetta MLA C.K. Saseendran.  “With the Army personnel arriving in the district for rescue operations on Friday, we can reach the spot and assess the loss of lives and destruction,” he added. “Unlike last year, the havoc this year is faster and within two days the situation has gone beyond control,” he added.

Kalpetta town, the headquarters of Wayanad, received 204.3 mm rain up to 2.30 p.m. on Thursday. Experts believe that the avalanche resulted from a cloudburst.  

With all the roads, including the three ghat roads, blocked, Wayanad was isolated from the rest of the state. The KSRTC temporarily stopped the Mysore-Bangalore service from Kozhikode through Wayanad ghat section.  Most of the low-lying zones of Kalpetta town were inundated in an avalanche that lasted for over two hours. The district collector cancelled the leave of all government officials and asked them to report for duty on Friday.

In Kozhikode district, many rivers are overflowing submerging parts of the towns on the banks. The number of inmates in relief camps was going up. In total, 584 people were rehabilitated in 16 camps.

Two National Disaster Response Force teams were engaged in rescue activities in Malappuram district rescuing as many as 793 people from 21 places on Thursday.  The district authorities were on high alert as more families were shifting to relief camps.