Landslides in Wayanad’s 4 Villages: 63 Dead, 400 Missing; Army Deployed Amid Heavy Rain
Late Monday night, heavy rainfall triggered landslides in four separate locations in Wayanad, Kerala, causing four villages to be washed away. Houses, bridges, roads, and vehicles were also swept away. So far, 63 people have died, 75 are hospitalized, and over 400 are missing. The incident occurred at 2 AM.
Rescue Operations Underway in Wayanad
Teams from SDRF and NDRF are present at the site for rescue operations. 225 soldiers from Kannur, including a medical team, have been sent to Wayanad. Additionally, two helicopters from the Air Force were deployed for rescue but had to return due to heavy rainfall.
Previous Landslide Tragedy in Wayanad
Five years ago, a landslide in the same region resulted in 17 deaths. Landslides have occurred in four villages in Wayanad – Mundakkai, Churamala, Attamala, and Nullapuzha. In 2019, the same villages experienced landslides, resulting in 17 deaths. Five people remain missing to this day. 52 houses were destroyed.
Severe Damage in Mundakkai Village
Mundakkai village has suffered the most damage due to the landslide, with around 250 people trapped. The rescue team has not yet reached here. An NDRF team is attempting to reach the village on foot. Approximately 250 people are reported to be trapped in Mundakkai, with many houses washed away. 65 families lived here, and 35 employees from a nearby tea estate are also missing.
Foreign Nationals Rescued from Churalmala Village
District Panchayat President Shamshad Maraikar stated that Mundakkai is inaccessible by road and mobile networks are down. Churalmala village also suffered significant damage. Many houses were washed away, and several people, including two foreign nationals, were rescued. They were staying in homestays. Rescue teams are inspecting every house in the area.
Heavy Rainfall Expected in Wayanad
In addition to Wayanad, the Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for Kozhikode, Malappuram, and Kasaragod, indicating heavy rainfall is expected today. This could hinder rescue operations in Wayanad.
Wayanad Landslide Update
The health department has set up a control room following the Wayanad landslide. Two helpline numbers, 8086010833 and 9656938689, have been announced for emergency health services. Kerala Health Minister Veena George stated that hospitals in Vythiri, Kalapetta, Meppadi, and Mananthavady are on alert. Tourists are prohibited from visiting all tourist spots in Kozhikode district, and all granite quarries have been temporarily closed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed sorrow over the deaths in the Wayanad landslide and assured the Kerala government of all possible assistance from the center. He also announced compensation of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.
Cloudburst in Kullu Damages Apple Orchards; Leh Road Closed Due to Rising Water in Anjani Nala
A cloudburst occurred in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, late Monday-Tuesday night, causing heavy rainfall in the Tosh Nala area of the Parvati Valley. Apple trees near Tosh Nala were damaged. Roads were destroyed in Kullu following the cloudburst. The water level in Anjani Mahadev Nala near Palchan has risen, with water flowing onto the road, disrupting vehicular movement towards the Atal Tunnel and Leh Road.
Weather Forecast for the Future
The Meteorological Department has issued a warning for heavy rainfall (more than 12 cm) in Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Chandigarh, Western Uttar Pradesh, Western Rajasthan, Eastern Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Tripura by July 31. Heavy rainfall (up to 7 cm) is also forecasted in Punjab, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Eastern Rajasthan, Western Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, Konkan-Goa, Central Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Kerala.
