A day after landslides struck two villages in Kerala’s Wayanad district, the death toll rose significantly, highlighting the severity of this natural disaster.
Rising Death Toll and IMD Warning
As of Wednesday, the death toll from the landslides in Wayanad reached at least 167, with officials warning that this number could rise further. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted ‘heavy to very heavy rainfall’ at isolated places, maintaining the warning for August 1 and forecasting ‘heavy’ showers for the following day. “Strong surface winds with speeds reaching 30-40 gusting to 50 kmph are likely to prevail occasionally over Kerala on July 31,” the IMD stated.
The Devastation
The landslides occurred early Tuesday morning, at 2 am and 4:10 am, devastating the Mundakkai and Chooramala areas under Vellarimala village in the Meppadi Panchayat. The force of these landslides washed away entire areas, leaving a trail of destruction. As a result, all educational institutions in the district remained closed on Wednesday, and a holiday was declared in 11 districts, including Kasaragod, Kannur, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Malappuram, Palakkad, Thrissur, Idukki, Ernakulam, Alappuzha, and Pathanamthitta.
State Mourning and Rescue Efforts
In response to the tragedy, the Kerala government declared an official state mourning, with the national flag flown at half-mast. All public functions and celebratory programs scheduled by the government were postponed. The death toll in Wayanad’s landslide tragedy further increased to 264 by Thursday, with around 200 people still missing. More than 1,200 rescue officials, including personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, and Fire Forces, alongside locals, launched a massive rescue operation in the worst-affected areas: Churalpara, Velarimala, Mundakayil, and Pothukalu.
Bridge Construction and Relief Efforts
A Bailey Bridge is nearing completion, which will connect the marooned areas between Churalmala and Mundakayil, expected to expedite rescue operations. While heavy rain on Wednesday evening hampered the bridge’s erection, clearer skies on Thursday favored rescue team efforts. Over 8,000 people have been safely evacuated and are now housed in around 82 relief camps.
Recovery and Future Steps
Local reports suggest the death toll is likely to rise further as more bodies are recovered from the debris. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is set to visit the affected areas and will chair an all-party meeting to discuss the extensive rehabilitation process needed, as the landslides effectively wiped out the villages of Churalmala and Mundakayil. Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are also expected to visit. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is the Congress candidate after Rahul Gandhi vacated the Lok Sabha seat.
This tragedy underscores the urgent need for effective disaster management and long-term rehabilitation plans to support the affected communities in Wayanad.
(With inputs from agencies)
