The landslide that hit Kerala's Wayanad on Monday completely wiped out four villages. The disaster has already resulted in 256 fatalities, with numerous reports of injuries and many people suspected to still be trapped under the debris.
So far, 3000 individuals have been rescued. Heavy rains, combined with massive chunks of mud, rocks, and trees, are making the rescue operation extremely challenging. Military personnel are working tirelessly to reconstruct the collapsed bridge between Churalamala and Mundakkai, hoping to complete the 190-feet bridge by this afternoon, facilitating quicker rescue operations.
Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Head to Wayanad
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi left New Delhi for Wayanad. He is traveling there to assess the situation in his parliamentary area. Priyanka Gandhi is accompanying him. Both leaders will meet families affected by the landslide. Originally, they were scheduled to visit on Wednesday, but poor weather conditions forced them to postpone their trip.
Source: aajtak
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Four Villages Completely Destroyed
Images from Wayanad depict the devastation that has shook not only Kerala but the entire nation. The torrential rains turned catastrophic during the late hours of Monday and early Tuesday. In just four hours, heavy rainfall triggered three landslides, causing complete destruction in the picturesque villages of Churalamala, Attamala, Nullpuza, and Mundakkai, located in the downstream catchment of the Cheliyar River.
Massive boulders and debris obliterated entire villages in moments. Hundreds of homes turned into rubble in a matter of minutes. Anything that stood in the deluge's path was swept away, including deeply rooted trees.
Source: aajtak
The extent of the midnight disaster is evident from the fact that even locations where temples once stood now lie flattened. So far, rescuers have recovered 173 bodies from the debris; reports suggest that more individuals are still trapped in landslide-hit areas. The major inhabitants of these four villages are tea plantation workers, totaling around 22,000 people. The first landslide occurred at 1 AM when most people were asleep, offering no chance for escape.
Army Takes Charge
The Indian Army has intensified rescue operations in landslide-hit areas of Wayanad. Under the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) mission, the army is leaving no stone unturned to rescue stranded people. About 500 personnel, including medical staff, have been deployed.
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The army has rescued nearly 1000 individuals. A 'Command and Control Center' has been set up at Kozhikode, led by Brigadier Arjun Segan with General Officer Commanding of Karnataka and Kerala Sub Area, Major General VT Mathew. This is aimed at coordinating HADR efforts.
Source: aajtak
Soldiers joining the HADR teams have been mobilized from Kannur, Kozhikode, and Thiruvananthapuram. The first to respond were two teams from DSC Centre, Kannur and 122 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army) Madras, Kozhikode, comprising a total of 225 personnel. Additionally, to expedite rescue and relief operations, two more HADR teams with a capacity of 135 personnel each, including two medical teams, were transported from Trivandrum to Kozhikode. Furthermore, a C-17 aircraft landed in Kannur carrying another set of a 110-feet Bailey bridge and three search and rescue dog teams from Delhi Cantt for further use.
Kerala Floods Six Years Ago Claimed 483 Lives
Earlier, in August 2018, a natural disaster in Kerala had resulted in the death of 483 people. Known as the 'flood of the century,' the tragedy led to the loss of not just lives, but property and livelihoods as well. The central government declared the 2018 floods as a 'Disaster of Serious Nature.' Following the disaster, more than 3.91 lakh families, comprising over 14.50 lakh people, were rehabilitated in relief camps. A total of 57,000 hectares of agricultural crops were destroyed.
