Wayanad landslides LIVE | Toll rises to 243; Kerala CM slams Amit Shah on warning claims
Massive landslides triggered by heavy rain struck Wayanad on Tuesday while hundreds are still trapped beneath the debris, sparking fears of mounting fatalities
Search and rescue operations have begun for the second day at the landslide-ravaged sites of Kerala’s Wayanad district, as rescue agencies race against time to pull out any survivors.
Till 6 pm am on Wednesday (July 31), 243 people had been confirmed dead after massive landslides triggered by heavy rains struck the hilly and forested Wayanad early on Tuesday (July 30). Based on the number of post-mortems conducted, 123 deaths have been officially confirmed, and 75 bodies have been identified.
Hundreds are still trapped beneath the debris, sparking fears of mounting fatalities.
Rescue teams comprising the Army, Navy, and NDRF are collectively looking for survivors amid rough weather, and multiple agencies are working in tandem to provide critical assistance to those affected.
According to a senior government source, heavy rains triggered a series of massive landslides in hilly areas of Meppadi in the district. Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Noolpuzha villages were among the areas affected and cut off by the landslides.
The dead includes women and children. The bodies of the deceased are being taken to various hospital morgues for identification and autopsy.
In a bid to rapidly evacuate stranded persons, two Indian Air Force helicopters from Air Force Station Sulur have been dispatched to the affected area.
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- 31 July 2024 5:41 AM GMT
Siddaramaiah seeks corporate donations for Kerala victims
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has appealed to the corporate world to contribute generously for the relief and rehabilitation of people hit by massive landslides in Wayanad district in neighbouring Kerala.
In a message to the corporates, Siddaramaiah exhorted them to help rebuild the affected areas through the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative.
“The scale of the disaster necessitates a coordinated and generous response from all sectors of society, particularly from corporate entities that have always been pillars of support in times of need,” the CM said in his letter.
He further said Karnataka is specifically looking for financial support to facilitate the logistics of relief operations and rebuilding efforts and food supplies, especially non-perishable food items and clothing.
Underlining that this was an opportunity to stand together and make a significant impact, Siddaramaiah said the involvement and contributions of the corporates will not only provide immediate relief but also help in the long-term rehabilitation of the affected regions.
The Karnataka government has established a dedicated task force to coordinate relief efforts and ensure that all contributions are utilised effectively and transparently.
Director of Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority, KB Shivakumar can be contacted on 9482575918 for making donations.
