123 dead, 128 injured in Tragic landslide Incident, Rescue Ops On
At least 123 people have died and 128 are injured after massive landslides triggered by torrential rains in Wayanad, Kerala. Rescuers are racing against time to find survivors, with hundreds still trapped under debris.
The landslides, which occurred on Tuesday, have left a trail of death and destruction in the picturesque hamlets of Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Noolpuzha. Heart-wrenching scenes and phone conversations of people crying and pleading to be rescued have been reported.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan described the disaster as “one of the most severe natural disasters our state has ever seen.” He confirmed that 93 bodies have been recovered so far, and 128 people are undergoing treatment at various hospitals.
The landslides have destroyed entire regions, with the Vellarimala GHSS school completely buried under the earth. The Iruvazhinjipuzha river has also split into two, causing widespread destruction. Rescue teams comprising the Army, Navy, and NDRF are working together to find survivors.
Additional columns comprising 200 soldiers, medical teams, and equipment from the Defence Security Corps Centre in Kannur and the Territorial Army from Kozhikode have been deployed to reinforce rescue efforts. The Kerala government has also sought further assistance from the nation’s defence forces.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed concern over the incident and assured all possible help from the Centre to the state. He announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.
Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are set to visit the landslide-hit area on Wednesday morning. Wayanad, a hill district in northern Kerala, is known for its lush green forests, rolling hills, and sparkling waterfalls.
The district is home to various cultures, including indigenous tribal communities, and agriculture is the mainstay of its economy. The disaster has caused widespread destruction and chaos, with many families losing loved ones and facing an uncertain future.