Wayanad landslide LIVE | 125 dead, many feared trapped under debris; rescue underway
The first landslide reportedly struck Mundakkai Town around 1 am, while the second one struck 3 hours later, at Chooraal Mala School, which was serving as a camp
At least 125 people have been killed massive landslides triggered by heavy rains in Wayanad on Tuesday (July 30) while hundreds are trapped beneath the debris, sparking fears of mounting fatalities, even as rescue agencies were racing against time to pull out any survivors.
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.
The dead includes women and children. The bodies of the deceased are being taken to various hospital morgues for identification and autopsy.
Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Noolpuzha villages were among the areas affected and cut off by the landslides.
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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Live Updates
- 30 July 2024 8:14 AM IST
Red alert has been sounded in Kozhikod, Kannur, Wayanad, Kasarkod and Malappuram districts
Red alert has been sounded in Kozhikod, Kannur, Wayanad, Kasarkod and Malappuram districts.
It is feared that the area near Meppadi, Wayanad, received around 40 cm of rain over the past few days, excluding yesterday’s rainfall.
The total rainfall is estimated at 70 cm in a span of five days, increasing the area's propensity for landslides.
- 30 July 2024 8:06 AM IST
NDRF deployed for rescue operations
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said all government agencies have joined the search and rescue operations.
The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) has said that fire-fighting personnel and National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed to the affected areas, with an additional NDRF team on its way to Wayanad. The NDRF is reportedly considering airlifting options.
Two teams of Kannur Defence Security Corps have also been instructed to move to Wayanad to assist in the rescue efforts, according to a Facebook post by the KSDMA.
The operations will be coordinated, and state ministers will reach the hilly district to lead the rescue activities, Pinarayi said in a statement issued by his office.
He added that in the wake of the landslides and other rain-related disasters in Wayanad district, the Health Department — National Health Mission — has opened a control room. Those in need of emergency assistance can contact authorities through these two numbers — 9656938689 and 8086010833 — the statement said.
Rescue operations are reportedly being hindered by ongoing heavy rainfall and power cuts in the region.
