Kerala Government seeks assistance from the Indian Army for rescue operations in the wake of the devastating landslides in Wayanad
Picturesque hamlets known for their beauty — Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Noolpuzha — are now a picture of gloom after landslides hit the areas, cutting them off from other places. Vehicles washed away in floodwaters could be seen stuck in tree trunks and submerged here and there in many places.
AMN / WEB DESK
Heavy rains wreaked havoc at Mundakkai, Attamala and Chooramala regions of the hilly Wayanad district in Kerala where a major landslide during the wee hours of this morning, claimed the lives of at least 54 persons so far. The death toll is likely to rise further. More than 66 persons who were injured in the landslide have been admitted to various hospitals. Reports said 10 bodies washed away in the flash floods, reached Chaliyar river at Poththukal in Malappuram district further downstream.
Several persons are believed to be trapped in the affected region. The areas where the landslides took place, presented a grim picture of the enormity of nature’s fury, with mud, boulders, uprooted trees and rocks strewn around. Several houses and vehicles were completely damaged in the floods. The state government has sought help from the armed forces to deal with the situation.
Army personnel from Kozhikode and Kannur with medical equipment have also been mobilised. More NDRF teams from Bengaluru and Arakkonam in Tamil Nadu are expected to reach Wayanad later today. The Mundakkai area remains completely cut off from the rest of Wayanad district. A bridge at Choorakkal, which is the main link with the Mundakkai area has been washed away, causing difficulty to reach out to those trapped there.
President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar have expressed condolences over the loss of lives in the landslides in Wayanad. In her message on social media, the President prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured and the success of rescue operations. The Vice President also conveyed his wishes for the speedy recovery of those injured.
Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh have expressed condolences to the families of bereaved who lost their lives due to a landslide in Wayanad. In a social media post today, Mr Shah said that NDRF is conducting search and rescue operations on a war footing. He added that the second team is on its way to further strengthen the response operation. Mr Shah also extended prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured. Expressing anguish over the loss of lives in the incident, the Defence Minister extended prayers for the safety and well-being of everyone.