The tragic aftermath of the landslides in Kerala’s Wayanad district has seen the death toll rise to 84, with around 116 individuals reported injured, as per the latest updates from the Kerala Revenue Minister’s office on Tuesday. The injured are currently receiving treatment in various district hospitals.
Kerala’s Chief Secretary, V Venu, confirmed that over 80 bodies have been recovered as rescue operations continue in the landslide-affected regions of Wayanad. The severity of the situation has prompted a large-scale response from multiple government bodies and forces.
Union Minister of State, George Kurian, is set to lead the relief and rescue efforts, acting on directives from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Kurian will be coordinating with teams from the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF), paramilitary forces, and local government officials to streamline the operations. Kerala Forest Minister Saseendran has already reached the affected areas to oversee the damage assessment and immediate response measures, with State Minister Ramachandran Kadannappalli expected to join soon.
Adding to the efforts, a delegation of state ministers from the Revenue, Public Works, and Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Departments is en route from Thiruvananthapuram, aiming to provide additional support on the ground. The Indian Navy has dispatched a team from Ezhimala Naval Base in Kannur, including 30 specialist swimmers, to assist at the landslide site in Chooralmala, where conditions worsened following torrential rains.
The Indian Army has also been heavily involved, with around 200 personnel from the DSC Centre Kannur and 122 TA Battalion from Kozhikode dispatched to Wayanad. The Army, along with two Indian Air Force helicopters from Sulur Air Force Station, are actively participating in the rescue operations. Despite challenges such as a collapsed main bridge in the town of Chooralmala, the military and NDRF teams have managed to rescue approximately 150 people from Mudakkayi village, providing necessary medical aid and relocating them to safer locations.
The India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for heavy rainfall across eight districts in Kerala, complicating the ongoing rescue efforts and increasing the risk of further landslides and flooding.
The situation in Wayanad remains critical, with ongoing efforts from national and state forces converging to manage the crisis effectively and mitigate further loss of life and damage. The community, while facing adverse weather conditions, continues to see remarkable acts of bravery and coordination among the various teams involved in the life-saving operations.
