By D. Maan, Jadetimes News
Catastrophic Landslides in Kerala Claim 158 Lives, Hundreds Still Missing
The death toll from the devastating landslides in Kerala has risen to 158, with officials reporting that over 220 people are still unaccounted for. Rescue teams are diligently searching under collapsed roofs and debris of destroyed homes, hoping to find survivors.
Early Tuesday morning, thick torrents of mud and water surged through the region, flattening houses and uprooting trees. The relentless heavy rains continue to hinder rescue operations. This disaster is the worst to hit Kerala since 2018, when floods claimed over 400 lives.
The landslides occurred in the Mundakkai and Chooralmala areas of Wayanad district, surrounded by tea and cardamom estates. Rescue operations, which had paused late Tuesday night, resumed Wednesday morning. Photos from the site show the extensive devastation, with uprooted trees blocking submerged roads and homes reduced to rubble. Mud covered bodies were found seated on chairs and lying on beds inside one of the houses.
So far, over 3,000 people have been rescued and relocated to 45 relief camps. Among the missing are plantation workers and migrant laborers who lived in the affected areas. The rescue efforts involve the army, navy, air force, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), police, and fire department teams. Images show rescuers pulling survivors from beneath boulders and moving them to safety. In some areas, teams are attempting to construct temporary bridges to reach those stranded across swollen rivers.
The heavy rains and rugged terrain complicate the rescue efforts, making it challenging to reach victims. The landslides have also destroyed crucial bridges connecting remote areas. On Tuesday evening, air force helicopters evacuated people stranded in Mundakkai, which was cut off by the river. In Chooralmala, the army used ropes to rappel across the swollen river to reach stranded individuals.
Kerala's Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stated that the region was not known to be prone to landslides, and the sleeping villagers were caught off guard, leading to the high casualty numbers. On Wednesday, several opposition MPs raised the issue in parliament, demanding the landslides be declared a national disaster.
Rahul Gandhi, leader of the opposition in parliament and a former MP from Wayanad, said his plans to visit the disaster hit region were canceled after authorities warned that "incessant rains and adverse weather conditions" would make travel difficult.
