Thiruvananthapuram/New Delhi: A series of devastating landslides early on Tuesday morning triggered by a cloudburst and relentless rain hit Kerala’s hilly district of Wayanad, resulting in at least 125 deaths, 450 injuries, and hundreds missing, likely trapped under debris. The scale of the disaster evokes memories of the catastrophic 2018 floods that claimed nearly 500 lives. The toll is expected to rise as rescue operations continue.
Landslides caused by torrential rains in the district occurred in Meppadi, Mundakkai town and Chooral Mala. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told mediapersons that landslides occurred in the area at 2 am and 4.15 am causing massive devastation.
A bridge connecting Chooralmala and Mundakkai was destroyed cutting off these areas from the rest of the world. Over 200 houses were damaged in Mudakkai town and large areas of Chooralmala village were washed away in the massive landslide. Several shops and vehicles were also destroyed.
The Government Vocational Higher Secondary School at Vellarmala and several houses in Attamala were washed away.
The Centre has deployed the Army and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to aid in rescue and relief efforts. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of full central government support. Gandhi and senior Congress leaders, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, are expected to visit Wayanad on Wednesday. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has also promised continued support from the Central government.
The epicentre of the landslides Mundakkai, received 572 mm rainfall in 48 hours. According to officials, the region had received 200 mm rain in the first 24 hours and a huge amount of 372 mm of rainfall in the next 24 hours.
Chooralmala Angadi which is six km away from the epicentre, bore the brunt of the landslides. With the rivers that originate from Meppadi slopes in spate, the landslide brought down boulders and slush burying people, houses and vehicles downhill.
The heavy to very heavy rainfall in ecologically sensitive areas along the Western Ghat area during the last 24 hours made matters worse. More than 400 families were cut off from the rest of the world in Mundakkai following the collapse of a bridge at Cane hill.
At least 16 bodies, all victims of landslides in Wayanad district, were discovered in various sections of the Chaliyar river in Malappuram on Tuesday. The bodies washed down from the tributaries of Chaliyar river from Mepadi slopes.
People residing along the Chaliyar riverbanks were horrified to encounter dismembered bodies adrift in the water.
According to district authorities, the bodies of five individuals were found ashore within a forest area inhabited by tribal communities. These bodies have been transported to the mortuary of the local hospital.
Prime Minister Modi announced ex gratia payments of Rs 2 lakh for the deceased’s families and Rs 50,000 for the injured. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, expressing heartbreak over the disaster, has called for increased compensation and urgent restoration of transport and communication infrastructure.
Several injured persons have been evacuated from the disaster site and shifted to Meppadi VIMS Hospital, health centres and private hospitals. More than 150 people are under treatment in various hospitals in the district.
More doctors have been deployed in the casualty department. Doctors and healthcare 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 were 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.
According to reports, several migrant workers employed in tea, coffee, and cardamom plantations have been reported missing following a landslide in Mundakkai. The district authorities and rescue workers have not been able to reach them due to the destruction of the roads. Most of the workers are from West Bengal and Assam and were residing in the line houses with their families.
A section of people said warnings of potential heavy rains and landslides were disregarded. The district administration had issued alerts regarding the heavy rainfall in the area and cautioned residents about possible landslides.
Individuals residing in landslide-prone zones were advised to relocate to relief camps established by the authorities. However, many disregarded the warnings. Those who complied with the instructions were moved to the relief camps and are now safe.
Army, Navy, Coast Guard, and NDRF teams, including high-altitude training personnel and drone units, are actively engaged in the rescue operations. Villages such as Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Noolpuzha are among the hardest hit, with fears that some may have been washed away by the Chaliyar River. Kerala has declared two days of official mourning, with flags flying at half-mast.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Army Chief Gen. Upendra Dwivedi are overseeing the rescue efforts, which involve four NDRF units, two Army columns, and two Indian Air Force aircraft. The control centre in Calicut is monitoring the situation, and international condolences have been received from Israel and Australia.
Survivors recounted harrowing escapes, with some narrowly avoiding tragedy by fleeing to safety. One elderly couple described their desperate flight to a nearby hill, only to return and find their home and neighborhood destroyed. Another survivor shared a tragic account of losing contact with a relative fleeing with a toddler, who remains missing.
