By D. Maan, Jadetimes News
Kerala Landslides Tragic, 93 Dead, Dozens Trapped
At least 93 people lost their lives, and many are still feared trapped after massive landslides, triggered by heavy rains, struck the southern Indian state of Kerala. According to officials, the landslides occurred in the small hours of Tuesday in the hilly regions of Wayanad district.
Rescue efforts are under way, but the unrelenting rain and the collapse of a crucial bridge have hampered the process. V Venu, the state's top civil servant, said the situation was "very grave" with warnings that tolls could rise. It is the worst disaster to hit Kerala since 2018, when more than 400 people were killed in floods.
Over 200 army personnel have been pressed into service to aid the search and rescue operations. The landslide was 'completely devastated', Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told a news conference. At least 123 injured were being treated at local hospitals while more than 3,000 people were rescued and moved out to 45 relief camps.
Among those killed, 65 were confirmed to be from Wayanad and 16 bodies were recovered from the Chaliyar river that flows into the neighboring Malappuram district. Parts of some other bodies were also found. The landslips took place at different areas in Wayanad, including Mundakkai, Attamala, Chooralmala, and Kunhome. Videos shared on social media show muddy water gushing through streets and forests, demolishing houses, leaving people stranded, and rendering vehicles useless.
The collapse of the bridge that connected Chooralmala to Mundakkai and Attamala has isolated these areas, thereby complicating the rescue efforts. According to one resident, Rashid Padikkalparamban, at least three landslides hit around midnight, washing away the bridge.
State and national disaster relief teams are involved in rescue operations with the help of local residents. According to Venu, a small team crossed the river and reached those areas; the currents were too strong and the rain is too heavy, hence further rescue processes are not possible. Air relief operations, too, have been postponed because of the inclement weather conditions.
Local accounts describe harrowing scenes. Raghavan C Arunamala, a local, described seeing a man pinned in the rubble, screaming for help, as firefighters and rescue workers labored to get to him.
Many rush to the hospitals in search of their dear ones. As many as 350 families are believed to have been residing in the areas, mainly workers from tea and cardamom estates. The victims could all have been in their tents and might have been asleep when the landslides occurred. Wayanad and its surroundings are still on high alert as continuous heavy rains have been forecast, and schools and colleges have been closed in 10 out of 14 districts.
There was a landslide in Puthumala, Wayanad in 2019 which had taken 17 lives, and this incident pointed out the vulnerability of the region. Prominent Congress leader and former MP from Wayanad, Rahul Gandhi, will visit Wayanad district on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured the Chief Minister of the southern state of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan, of support from the federal government in relief efforts. He declared 200,000 rupees compensation for families of the victims and 50,000 for the injured.
