Wayanad (Kerala) [India], July 31 (ANI): After two massive landslides struck Wayanad, Kerala, on Tuesday morning, causing extensive destruction, rescue operations are being intensified, political leaders are engaged in discussions, and financial aid is being mobilized for the region.
The first landslide occurred in Mundakkai, a town, and the second in Chooralmala. The massive landslides wreaked havoc in the region, damaging houses and roads, uprooting trees, and swelling water bodies, which hindered rescue operations. Relief and rescue efforts are currently underway.
The landslides in Mundakkai and Chooralmala, Wayanad, have resulted in 167 confirmed deaths, as per the Kerala Revenue Department. According to sources from the Department of Information and Public Relations (PRD) Control Room in Wayanad, 96 victims have been identified, who includes 77 men, 67 women, and 22 children. Post-mortem examinations have been conducted on 166 bodies and 49 body parts. A total of 75 bodies have been handed over to relatives. Rescue personnel have brought 219 individuals to hospitals; 78 are still receiving treatment, while 142 have been moved to relief camps. In Wayanad, 73 people are hospitalised, and five in Malappuram.
Amid the rising death toll, the Indian Army has intensified its efforts to rescue people stranded after the landslides. According to the Ministry of Defence, “the Army has set up a “Command and Control Centre” headed by Major General VT Mathew, General Officer Commanding, Karnataka and Kerala Sub Area, along with Brigadier Arjun Segan, at Kozhikode for coordinating HADR efforts.”
“Brigadier Segan carried out reconnaissance of the affected areas in the early hours today and guided the Army columns for further conduct of the rescue operation. The troops are conducting rescue operations along a 6 km stretch of landslide-affected areas,” the ministry said. Further, the ministry stated that the Indian Army has intensified its rescue efforts in Wayanad, Kerala, after devastating landslides, rescuing around 1000 people, providing medical aid, and recovering the bodies of 86 deceased individuals.
During the day, IAF helicopters undertook multiple sorties, dropping food items and other relief materials. Evacuation of civilian causalities was also executed from cut-off areas. Naval aviation assets provided due support for the transportation of SDRF and state administration officials. Multiple aircraft are on standby at Thiruvananthapuram, Sulur, and Thanjavur to provide air rescue at short notice.
Besides the aid in terms of medicine and first aid, ECHS Polyclinic, Kalpetta, is providing the services of doctors, nursing assistants, and ambulances to the flood operations columns.
In the wake of the devastating landslides, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan convened a meeting in Thiruvananthapuram earlier today at the office of the Disaster Management Authority to take stock of the rescue efforts. As per a decision taken during the cabinet meeting, the Chief Minister will reach Wayanad on August 1 morning to attend a state-level all-party meeting tomorrow. “The cabinet meeting evaluated the situation. We are relocating tribal families and providing food to those who are not ready to move. A total of 1,592 people have been rescued through our extensive and coordinated rescue operations,” the CM said.
Meanwhile, the disaster also sparked a heated exchange of words among political leaders. Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday refuted Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s assertion in Parliament today that the state was warned as early as July 23 about a potential natural calamity in Wayanad due to heavy rains. “This is not the time to blame each other. However, reports from the Rajya Sabha indicate that the Union Home Minister claimed they had issued a warning, and Kerala did not respond appropriately,” the Kerala Chief Minister said in a press conference. Vijayan stated that the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had only issued an orange alert for the district prior to the landslides. However, Wayanad experienced over 500 millimetres of rainfall, far exceeding the IMD’s predictions.
Notably, speaking in Parliament today, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the Kerala government could have minimized the losses in Wayanad if they had become alert after the Central government’s warning about potential landslides and the risk to people’s lives. He added that irrespective of the party politics, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government will stand with the people of Kerala.
Meanwhile, on the upcoming visit to Wayanad by Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya raised questions and said that Union Minister George Kurian has been on the ground for the past two to three days. He added that while Kurian’s plane is able to land, the planes carrying Rahul and Priyanka are unable to do so.
Surya further stated that Kurien is overseeing the rescue operation in Wayanad under the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “He is supervising the rescue and relief operation on the direction of the Prime Minister. George Kurien’s plane can land, but ‘Yuvraj’ and Priyanka ji’s plane cannot land? This shows their commitment to the people who elected them.”
In the wake of the devastating landslides in Kerala’s Wayanad district, Union Minister George Kurien visited the affected area on Wednesday to assess the ongoing rescue operations. Kurien took stock of the rescue operation underway and also met the victims at the relief camps.
Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are scheduled to visit the disaster-stricken region of Wayanad on Thursday, August 1. They will be going to meet the families affected by the recent landslide that has claimed several lives in the hilly areas of Meppadi in Wayanad, Kerala. They will also be visiting the relief camps that were set up at the schools and medical institutes in Meppadi.
Financial support was received from neighbouring states. Tamil Nadu Congress President K Selvaperunthagai stated that the Tamil Nadu Congress is going to provide Rs 1 crore as a relief fund for the Wayanad landslide disaster. Selvaperunthagai said, “Unfortunately, landslides have occurred in Wayanad. Around 300 people are missing and rescue operations are taking place… On behalf of the Tamil Nadu Congress, we are going to provide Rs 1 crore as a relief fund for the Wayanad landslide disaster.”
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday expressed his condolences to the lives lost in the landslide in Kerala’s Wayanad and announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the deceased Kannadigas.
Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani on Wednesday also announced that he is pledging a contribution of Rs 5 crore to the Kerala Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund to help the state hit by landslides.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased in the landslides. “The Prime Minister has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of each deceased in the landslides in parts of Wayanad,” PM’s office said in a post on X. The post further said that the injured would be given Rs 50,000. (ANI)
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