Sunday, 22 December 2024
Sunday, 22 December 2024
On Tuesday, Kerala’s Wayanad district was struck by devastating landslides, resulting in the deaths of at least 93 people, including three children.
The landslides affected multiple areas, with fatalities reported in Chooralmala town, Thondernad village, and near Pothukal village.
Wayanad district authorities confirmed that among the victims were a one-year-old child from a Nepali family and a five-year-old whose body was recovered from a riverbank.
The landslides have caused significant disruption, cutting off villages such as Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Noolpuzha.
Rescue and relief operations are underway, with efforts led by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), local fire services, police, and various government departments. District Collector Meghasree DR told PTI that volunteers and local residents are also assisting in the rescue efforts, which include opening the Banasura Sagar dam to manage river levels.
A defence official told PTI 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.
UDF MLA T Siddique via a video mentioned that authorities are considering airlifting people from severely affected areas like Mundakkai. "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 told PTI.
Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan has announced that the state will receive additional support from the Indian Air Force.
As per the information, two air force helicopters will be deployed from Sulur to assist in the ongoing search and rescue operations.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a Red alert for four districts including Wayanad, an Orange alert has been issued for Tuesday for all other districts of the state except Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam. A red alert indicates heavy to extremely heavy rain of over 20 cm in 24 hours. An orange alert means very heavy rain of 11 cm to 20 cm, and a yellow alert means heavy rainfall between 6 cm and 11 cm. An Orange alert has been issued for Tuesday to Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad and Kasaragod districts. The Met office has also issued an Orange alert for Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Kannur districts on Wednesday also.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed deep concern over the tragedy and assured Kerala's chief minister of support. Modi announced a financial aid package, including an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.
The prime minister posted on X: “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."
