Tragic Landslide in Kerala's Wayanad Claims 84 Lives
Posted by admin on 2024-07-30 |
At least 84 individuals lost their lives in a devastating landslide in Kerala's Wayanad on Tuesday. The landslides struck the hilly regions of Wayanad district in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Despite ongoing rescue efforts, heavy rains and the collapse of a vital bridge are significantly hampering operations.
Challenges in Rescue Operations
Kerala's chief secretary, Dr. V. Venu, described the situation as "very grave" due to the area's isolation and the difficulty faced by rescue and relief teams in covering the entire affected region amidst continuous rain and challenging terrain. Approximately 350 families lived in the affected regions, which house numerous tea and cardamom estates.
Victims and Displacement
Most of the victims were estate workers who were likely asleep in their makeshift tents when the landslides struck. This disaster is the worst to hit Kerala since the 2018 floods, which claimed over 400 lives. More than 200 army personnel have been deployed to assist security forces in the search and rescue operations. Local hospitals are treating at least 129 injured individuals, and around 250 people have been rescued and relocated to rescue camps so far.
Visuals of Destruction
Videos circulating on social media depict muddy water gushing through unpaved streets and forested areas, washing away homes and leaving people and vehicles stranded. A critical bridge connecting Chooralmala to Mundakkai and Attamala has collapsed, isolating these areas and complicating efforts to reach trapped families.
Eyewitness Accounts and Government Response
Rashid Padikkalparamban, a local resident, reported to Reuters news agency that at least three landslides struck the area around midnight, resulting in the bridge being washed away. State and national disaster relief teams are actively engaged in rescue operations, with significant assistance from local residents.
Political and Federal Support
Wayanad, a hilly district in Kerala, is particularly vulnerable to landslides during the monsoon season.
Rahul Gandhi, a Congress leader and former MP from Wayanad, is scheduled to visit the district on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his condolences and support, announcing that he had spoken with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and assured federal assistance for the relief efforts. Mr. Modi also announced compensation of 200,000 rupees for the families of the victims and 50,000 rupees for the injured.
