At least 63 individuals have lost their lives, and many more are feared trapped following severe landslides triggered by heavy rains in Kerala’s Wayanad district. These catastrophic events struck the hilly areas early Tuesday morning.
According to BBC, despite ongoing rescue efforts, operations are severely hampered by relentless rain and the collapse of a crucial bridge.
“We will be able to assess the extent of the damage only after a few hours,” stated state minister AK Saseendran to BBC Hindi.
Rescue teams, including over 200 personnel from India’s army, are on the ground aiding in the search and rescue operations. Local hospitals are currently treating at least 100 injured individuals, and approximately 250 people have been rescued and moved to safety camps.
In addition to the 36 confirmed fatalities in Wayanad, nine bodies were discovered in the Chaliyar river, which flows into the adjacent Malappuram district.
Wayanad, part of the Western Ghats mountain range, frequently experiences landslides during the monsoon season. Several areas, including Mundakkai, Attamala, Chooralmala, and Kunhome, have been significantly impacted.
Footage circulating on social media shows torrents of muddy water flowing through unpaved roads and forested regions, washing away homes and stranding people and vehicles.
A vital bridge linking Chooralmala to Mundakkai and Attamala has collapsed, complicating efforts to reach trapped families.
Rashid Padikkalparamban, a local resident, reported to Reuters that three landslides had struck the area around midnight, sweeping away the bridge.
State and national disaster relief teams, along with local volunteers, are actively involved in rescue missions.
Mr. Saseendran mentioned that the army and air force have been requested to airlift trapped families. With a temporary bridge not immediately feasible, rescuers are resorting to using ropes to pull out victims.
Raghavan C Arunamala, another local resident, recounted the horrifying scenes, saying, “I saw a man trapped in the debris shouting for help. Firefighters and rescue workers have been trying to reach him for the last few hours.”
He added, “We fear hundreds of people are trapped inside the villages.”
With forecasts predicting continued heavy rains, Wayanad and surrounding areas remain on high alert. Schools and colleges have been shut down in 10 out of 14 districts.
This incident brings back memories of 2019, when a landslide in Puthumala, roughly 10 kilometers from the current affected areas, claimed 17 lives.
The tragedy was addressed in India’s parliament, with Vice-President Jagdeep Singh Dhankar describing it as a “very painful situation.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed on X that he had spoken to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, assuring federal support for relief efforts.
Modi also announced compensation of 200,000 rupees ($2,388; £1,857) for the families of the deceased and 50,000 rupees for the injured.
