Chennai: Over 100 bodies have been recovered so far while many still remain trapped after multiple landslides hit hilly regions near Meppadi in Kerala’s Wayanad district. Nearly 500 people were rescued from the affected area, while 3,069 people have been shifted to the 45 relief camps in various parts of the district.
The three landslides occurred in the Mundakkai and Chooralmala regions near Meppadi, a little after midnight Monday following heavy rain. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), air force and state police, and nearly 300 personnel from the fire force are deployed in the affected area to coordinate rescue operations. The Kerala government has declared state mourning on 30 and 31 July.
The first landslide occurred around 2 am followed by another one around 4 am, cutting off the affected areas from the rest of the district, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told the media Tuesday evening. The CM said that the Chooralmala-Mundakkai road was washed away and Vellarmala GVH school was almost buried under the mud.
The chief minister urged everyone to rebuild the state and donate to the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF).
The state has opened control rooms in the health minister’s office, which are taking queries on lines 8075401745 (minister’s office), 9995220557, 9037277026, and 9447732827, said Wayanad district collector Meghashree D.R.
Former Kalpetta MLA C.K. Saseendran told ThePrint that it was difficult initially to coordinate the rescue. “We reached the spot by 4 am, but faced many hindrances,” he said.
The district collector has also urged all government officials and teachers in the area to be in their respective offices to coordinate the rescue.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his distress over the deaths and announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the kin of the deceased. The injured will be given Rs 50,000 from the PMNRF fund, the PMO office posted on X. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced a Rs 5 crore relief fund fund Kerala.
Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the Opposition and former Wayanad MP, said he had spoken to Vijayan and the district collector, and was told that rescue operations were well under way. “I have requested them to ensure coordination with all agencies, set up a control room, and inform us of any assistance needed for the relief efforts,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority sounded a heavy rain alert in Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod, for Wednesday.
This is an updated version of the report
(Edited by Tikli Basu)
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