Wayanad (Kerala), July 30: In a tragic turn of events, landslides in Kerala’s Wayanad district have resulted in the death of 54 individuals, with rescue operations in full swing. The landslides hit the Meppadi area in the early hours of Tuesday, causing widespread devastation.
Kerala Minister AK Saseendran confirmed the death toll and emphasized the urgent need for coordinated relief efforts. Union Minister of State George Kurian is en route to Wayanad to lead the rescue and relief operations, following directions from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Kurian will work closely with the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF), paramilitary forces, Kerala Government officials, and other agencies to manage the situation.
Kerala Forest Minister Saseendran is already on the ground assessing the damage and coordinating immediate response measures. State minister Ramachandran Kadannappalli is also expected to join the efforts soon. Additionally, a delegation of ministers from the Revenue, Public Works, and Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Departments is traveling from Thiruvananthapuram to assist in the rescue operations.
Minister MB Rajesh stated that the state government is conducting rescue operations on a “war footing,” with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan closely monitoring the situation. Vijayan has dispatched a team of ministers to Wayanad and assigned an IAS officer to coordinate the rescue efforts on-site. So far, 250 individuals have been rescued and relocated to temporary shelter camps, with airlifting operations underway for those stranded.
Earlier, Chief Minister Vijayan held discussions with top officials from the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) to evaluate the ongoing relief efforts in the landslide-affected areas. He highlighted the coordinated response from various agencies, including the Indian Navy, Army, and Air Force.
An Indian Navy team from the Ezhimala Naval Base in Kannur is being deployed to assist in rescue operations at Chooralmala, a region severely impacted by the landslides. This deployment follows a request from Chief Minister Vijayan for the Navy’s River Crossing team. The Army and Air Force have also been mobilized, with efforts hampered by the collapse of a main bridge in Chooralmala.
Police drones and a dog squad have been deployed to aid search and rescue efforts, as per instructions from the Chief Minister. District Collector DR Meghashree confirmed the arrival of an Army platoon in Chooralmala to support the ongoing operations.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has directed the Army chief to mobilize additional forces for assistance in the affected area. Around 200 Indian Army personnel from DSC Centre Kannur and the 122 TA Battalion from Kozhikode have been dispatched to the site, along with 30 specialist swimmers from the Indian Navy. Two helicopters from Air Force Station Sulur have also been sent to aid in the rescue operations.
As the rescue efforts continue, the focus remains on providing immediate relief to the affected individuals and restoring normalcy in Wayanad.
