Wayanad landslide: 93 Bodies Recovered So Far, Says Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan
30 July 2024 2:06 AM GMT
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel conduct rescue operation after huge landslides in the hilly areas near Meppadi, in Wayanad district, Kerala (PTI)
Wayanad: Heavy rains triggered a series of massive landslides in the hilly areas of Kerala's Wayanad district early on Tuesday, leaving at least 45 persons dead and sparking apprehensions of possible increase in fatalities due to many people feared trapped under the debris.
Addressing a press conference, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said, "93 bodies have been recovered and the numbers may change. 128 people are receiving treatment for injuries in various hospitals. Many who went to sleep last night have been swept away."
"Many people are still trapped under the debris. We have opened 45 relief camps in Wayanad and a total of 118 camps across the state, accommodating 5,531 people. The fire force, NDRF and police are working together. Various divisions of the Army and Navy are coordinating the rescue operations," he added.
The bodies of the deceased are being taken to various hospital morgues for identification and autopsy.
Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Noolpuzha villages were among the areas affected and cut off by the landslides, authorities said.
Rescue teams were working tirelessly to evacuate those stranded, with the Indian Army joining the efforts. Besides the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the state government has also deployed disaster response teams from the police and the fire force to affected areas.
Hundreds are feared to be trapped in the landslides, but authorities have not confirmed this.
Frantic phone calls made by people desperately pleading for help after being trapped under destroyed houses and piles of debris highlighted the intensity of the deadly landslide.
Television channels aired heartwrenching phone conversations of several people crying and pleading to be rescued, as they were either trapped in their houses or had no way to travel due to washed-away bridges and flooded roads.
In one such conversation, a woman, apparently a native of Chooralmala town, was heard crying aloud, saying someone in her house was trapped under marsh and debris and they could not pull her out.
"Someone, please come and help us. We have lost our house. We don't know whether Nausheen (apparently a family member) is alive. She is trapped in the marsh. Her mouth is full of marsh and sand. Our house is in the town itself," the woman said.
The Kerala government has sought the assistance of the Indian Army for rescue operations.
A Defence PRO said on Tuesday that a team of 43 personnel, led by the Second-in-Command from the 122 Infantry Battalion (TA) MADRAS, has been mobilised to aid in the ongoing rescue efforts.
The team, comprising a Medical Officer, two Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs), and 40 soldiers, is equipped to provide critical assistance in the affected area.
Their deployment aims to augment existing rescue operations and provide relief to those affected by the landslides.
Of those killed, four people, including a child, died in Chooralmala town of the district. A one-year-old child of a family from Nepal died in Thondernad village, according to the Wayanad district authorities.
Besides that, three bodies, including that of a five-year-old, were recovered from the banks of a river near Pothukal village, authorities said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed concern over the incident and said he spoke to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and assured all possible help from the Centre to the state.
"Distressed by the landslides in parts of Wayanad. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones and prayers with those injured.
"Rescue ops are currently underway to assist all those affected. Spoke to Kerala CM Shri @pinarayivijayan and also assured all possible help from the Centre in the wake of the prevailing situation there," Modi said in a post on social media platform 'X'.
The landslides left a trail of destruction, with several houses destroyed, water bodies swollen, and trees uprooted, hampering rescue operations.
Picturesque hamlets known for their beauty until Monday--Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Noolpuzha- are now a picture of gloom after landslides hit the areas, cutting them off from other places.
Vehicles washed away in floodwaters could be seen stuck in tree trunks and submerged here and there in many places.
Swollen water bodies changed their course and flowed through inhabited areas, resulting in more destruction.
Huge boulders rolled down the hills and hindered the path of rescue workers.
Collector Meghasree said disaster relief work is progressing in affected areas and rescue operations are being carried out by the NDRF, fire force, police, and the Forest, Revenue and Local Self-government departments.
Along with government agencies, volunteers and local residents are cooperating in the rescue operation, she said in a statement.
The Collector also informed that the shutter of Banasura Sagar dam, on the Karamanthodu river, was opened and warned those living downstream and in low-lying areas to be cautious.
Earlier, in a video message, UDF MLA T Siddique said that district authorities were drawing up plans to airlift people from Mundakkai area.
"Currently, we have no complete information about those missing and dead in the landslides. Many areas have been cut off. NDRF personnel are trying to reach those places," he said.
Vijayan said in a Facebook post that two Air Force helicopters will depart for Wayanad from Sulur (Coimbatore in TN) shortly to take part in the search and rescue operations.
Rescue teams were working tirelessly to evacuate those stranded, with the Indian Army joining the efforts. Besides the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the state government has also deployed disaster response teams from the police and the fire force to affected areas.
Hundreds are feared to be trapped in the landslides, but authorities have not confirmed this.
Frantic phone calls made by people desperately pleading for help after being trapped under destroyed houses and piles of debris highlighted the intensity of the deadly landslide.
Television channels aired heartwrenching phone conversations of several people crying and pleading to be rescued, as they were either trapped in their houses or had no way to travel due to washed-away bridges and flooded roads.
In one such conversation, a woman, apparently a native of Chooralmala town, was heard crying aloud, saying someone in her house was trapped under marsh and debris and they could not pull her out.
"Someone, please come and help us. We have lost our house. We don't know whether Nausheen (apparently a family member) is alive. She is trapped in the marsh. Her mouth is full of marsh and sand. Our house is in the town itself," the woman said.
The Kerala government has sought the assistance of the Indian Army for rescue operations.
A Defence PRO said on Tuesday that a team of 43 personnel, led by the Second-in-Command from the 122 Infantry Battalion (TA) MADRAS, has been mobilised to aid in the ongoing rescue efforts.
The team, comprising a Medical Officer, two Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs), and 40 soldiers, is equipped to provide critical assistance in the affected area.
Their deployment aims to augment existing rescue operations and provide relief to those affected by the landslides.
Of those killed, four people, including a child, died in Chooralmala town of the district. A one-year-old child of a family from Nepal died in Thondernad village, according to the Wayanad district authorities.
Besides that, three bodies, including that of a five-year-old, were recovered from the banks of a river near Pothukal village, authorities said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed concern over the incident and said he spoke to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and assured all possible help from the Centre to the state.
"Distressed by the landslides in parts of Wayanad. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones and prayers with those injured.
"Rescue ops are currently underway to assist all those affected. Spoke to Kerala CM Shri @pinarayivijayan and also assured all possible help from the Centre in the wake of the prevailing situation there," Modi said in a post on social media platform 'X'.
The landslides left a trail of destruction, with several houses destroyed, water bodies swollen, and trees uprooted, hampering rescue operations.
Picturesque hamlets known for their beauty until Monday--Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Noolpuzha- are now a picture of gloom after landslides hit the areas, cutting them off from other places.
Vehicles washed away in floodwaters could be seen stuck in tree trunks and submerged here and there in many places.
Swollen water bodies changed their course and flowed through inhabited areas, resulting in more destruction.
Huge boulders rolled down the hills and hindered the path of rescue workers.
Collector Meghasree said disaster relief work is progressing in affected areas and rescue operations are being carried out by the NDRF, fire force, police, and the Forest, Revenue and Local Self-government departments.
Along with government agencies, volunteers and local residents are cooperating in the rescue operation, she said in a statement.
The Collector also informed that the shutter of Banasura Sagar dam, on the Karamanthodu river, was opened and warned those living downstream and in low-lying areas to be cautious.
Earlier, in a video message, UDF MLA T Siddique said that district authorities were drawing up plans to airlift people from Mundakkai area.
"Currently, we have no complete information about those missing and dead in the landslides. Many areas have been cut off. NDRF personnel are trying to reach those places," he said.
Vijayan said in a Facebook post that two Air Force helicopters will depart for Wayanad from Sulur (Coimbatore in TN) shortly to take part in the search and rescue operations.
The recurring flash floods triggered by heavy rains in the area are making rescue operations difficult. Rescue workers said several houses in Attamala, Government Vocational Higher Secondary School at Vellarmala were washed away in the landslides.
The locals said this was perhaps one of the worst natural disasters witnessed in Wayanad district in recent years.
More than 400 families were cut off from the rest of the world in Mundakkai following the collapse of a bridge at Cane hill.
Several injured persons have been evacuated from the disaster site and shifted to Meppadi VIMS Hospital. At the moment nearly 60 persons are being treated at the hospital.
More doctors have been appointed in the casualty department. Doctors and health care professionals who are on leave have been instructed to return to work immediately. The private hospitals have also asked to scale up the facilities to attend to the injured persons.
The severely injured persons are being rushed to the Kozhikode medical college where special arrangements have been put in place to deal with the emergency cases.
The landslides occurred in areas where several homestays are also functioning which has raised concerns about the safety of tourists as well. According to reports, several people staying in the homestays are reported missing. The local authorities are trying to locate the people.
It is reported that two doctors who were staying at the Chooralmala homestay are also missing.
The severely injured persons are being rushed to the Kozhikode medical college where special arrangements have been put in place to deal with the emergency cases.
The landslides occurred in areas where several homestays are also functioning which has raised concerns about the safety of tourists as well. According to reports, several people staying in the homestays are reported missing. The local authorities are trying to locate the people.
It is reported that two doctors who were staying at the Chooralmala homestay are also missing.
According to authorities, the landslides occurred twice at Mundakkai at 1 am and then at 4 am. Revenue Minister K Rajan and SC/ST Welfare Minister O R Kelu are monitoring the rescue and relief operations while health minister Veena George is coordinating with the medical colleges, hospitals nad health workers to provide prompt medical care to the injured.
Control Room
The health department-National Health Mission has opened a control room in Wayanad district. The control room can be reached on the following numbers ; 9656938689 and 8086010833 for any help in case of an emergency.
Mundakkai is close to the spot where the Puthumala landslide tragedy occurred earlier. Efforts are now underway to bring people out of isolated areas. During the rescue operations, there were large-scale landslides and landslides in Chooralmala town. The rescuers were on the run. There has been heavy damage in the area for about a kilometre. Mundakkai, Chooralmala and Puthumala Prada are in Meppadi panchayath.
A few families were evacuated from the Punjiri Mattam Mundakkai area on Monday. The evacuation was carried out following a landslide at Mundakkai Hills on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the met department has predicted heavy to very heavy rains in Wayanad, Kozhikode, Kannur, Thrissur districts. The heavy rains are adversely affecting the rescue operations in the affected areas.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan directed the heads of various departments to carry out the rescue and relief operations on a war footing.
Opposition leader in Lok Sabha and former Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi has sought help from the defence forces in the rescue and relief operations in the affected areas.
Control Room
The health department-National Health Mission has opened a control room in Wayanad district. The control room can be reached on the following numbers ; 9656938689 and 8086010833 for any help in case of an emergency.
Mundakkai is close to the spot where the Puthumala landslide tragedy occurred earlier. Efforts are now underway to bring people out of isolated areas. During the rescue operations, there were large-scale landslides and landslides in Chooralmala town. The rescuers were on the run. There has been heavy damage in the area for about a kilometre. Mundakkai, Chooralmala and Puthumala Prada are in Meppadi panchayath.
A few families were evacuated from the Punjiri Mattam Mundakkai area on Monday. The evacuation was carried out following a landslide at Mundakkai Hills on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the met department has predicted heavy to very heavy rains in Wayanad, Kozhikode, Kannur, Thrissur districts. The heavy rains are adversely affecting the rescue operations in the affected areas.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan directed the heads of various departments to carry out the rescue and relief operations on a war footing.
Opposition leader in Lok Sabha and former Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi has sought help from the defence forces in the rescue and relief operations in the affected areas.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle with agency inputs )
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