Wayanad landslides: Survivors recount horror as death toll touches 158

Wayanad landslides: Survivors recount horror as death toll touches 158

Wayanad/New Delhi : In one of the most catastrophic natural disasters to hit Kerala, at least 123 people have been confirmed dead and 128 injured following massive landslides triggered by torrential rains in Wayanad on Tuesday.

Hundreds remain trapped under debris, heightening fears of increasing fatalities. Rescue teams are working urgently against the clock to find and save survivors.

Government sources have confirmed the death toll of 123, with ongoing efforts to assess the full impact of the disaster.

The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) has deployed Fireforce and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams to the affected area, where hundreds are believed to be trapped. Additional support, including another NDRF team and two units from the Kannur Defence Security Corps, is also on the way to assist with the rescue efforts.

Heavy rainfall has severely hampered rescue operations. In Mundakkai, several houses, shops, and vehicles are buried under the debris, and a bridge to the site has been washed away, further complicating rescue efforts.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has assured the public that army assistance will be sought to construct a temporary bridge, evacuate people by helicopter, and establish necessary arrangements at the disaster site.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his concern over the tragedy, stating, "My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones, and my prayers are with the injured." He assured that the central government would provide all possible assistance in response to the situation.

Wayanad Landslides Live Updates: Survivor Mustafa Ahmed describes narrow escape as village remains trapped

Jul 30, 2024 10:06 PM

Wayanad Landslides Live Updates: IMD issues red alert for Wayanad, neighbouring districts

The India Meteorological Department on Tuesday issued a red alert for the mountain district of Wayanad — which has been rocked by landslides triggered by incessant rains — and all the northern districts of Kerala, indicating that extremely heavy rainfall is expected in these regions.

While the IMD has issued a red alert for eight districts, including Wayanad, an orange alert was issued for Tuesday for Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam and Ernakulam districts.

A red alert indicates heavy-to-extremely heavy rain of over 20 cm in 24 hours. An orange alert means very heavy rain of 11 cm to 20 cm, and a yellow alert means heavy rainfall between 6 cm and 11 cm. (PTI)

Jul 30, 2024 9:57 PM

Wayanad Landslides Live Updates: At least 123 killed, rescue efforts intensify amidst fears of more casualties

In one of the most catastrophic natural disasters to hit Kerala, at least 123 people have been confirmed dead and 128 injured following massive landslides triggered by torrential rains in Wayanad on Tuesday.

Hundreds remain trapped under debris, heightening fears of increasing fatalities. Rescue teams are working urgently against the clock to find and save survivors.

Government sources have confirmed the death toll of 123, with ongoing efforts to assess the full impact of the disaster.

Jul 30, 2024 9:53 PM

Wayanad Landslides Live Updates: Four North Indian tourists trapped in Wayanad landslide; two missing

Four tourists from North India travelled all the way to the hill district of Wayanad to enjoy its lush greenery and tranquility of nature but ended up trapped after massive landslides devastated the district in Kerala on Tuesday.

After flying into Bengaluru airport, the tourists had visited Coimbatore and Coorg before arriving in Wayanad a few days ago.

Two of them are now missing, and the other two are undergoing treatment at a hospital for injuries sustained in the deadly landslides that struck the hamlets of mountainous Wayanad in the early hours of Tuesday. (PTI)

Jul 30, 2024 7:37 PM

Wayanad Landslides Live Updates: Sikkim and Tamil Nadu pledge crores in aid; Kerala declares two days of mourning

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan says, “Kerala Bank has already contributed ₹50 lakh to CMDRF. The Chief Minister of Sikkim has pledged ₹2 crore, and Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin has promised ₹5 crore in aid. In response to the disaster in Wayanad, the state has declared two days of official mourning. Public events and celebrations have been postponed. We request that the national flag be flown at half-mast as part of the mourning period.”

After an hours-long mission, a man who was covered in mud and desperately clinging to a huge boulder to survive the flood waters gushing past him in landslide-hit Wayanad on Tuesday was rescued.

Visuals of the hapless man’s attempt to survive amidst scattered boulders in the floodwater came from Mundakkai village here, where hundreds of people are reportedly trapped following the deadly landslides triggered by heavy rainfall in the early hours of Tuesday.

Helpless local residents could do nothing but watch the man’s struggle and urged authorities to swiftly rescue him.

Having been washed away by flood water, he had somehow got stuck between huge boulders but was unable to stand or swim to safety due to the thick marsh and strong currents.

The visuals of his ordeal, recorded by one of the villagers, were aired on television channels, in which authorities were urged to send rescue teams to the location as soon as possible.

“He is trapped in the area near the local school in Mundakkai. He caught our attention for the first time by 7.30 am. He is still continuing his attempt not to get swept away by the flood waters and trying to stand in the thick marsh,” Raghavan, a block panchayat member who shot the visuals on his mobile phone, said. (PTI)

Jul 30, 2024 6:00 PM

Wayanad Landslides Live Updates: Warming of Arabian Sea linked to Wayanad landslides, say climate scientist

Warming of the Arabian Sea is allowing the formation of deep cloud systems, leading to extremely heavy rainfall in Kerala in a shorter period and increasing the possibility of landslides, a senior climate scientist said on Tuesday.

Extremely heavy rain triggered a series of landslides in the hilly areas of Kerala’s Wayanad district early on Tuesday, leaving at least 45 people dead. Many were feared trapped under the debris.

S Abhilash, the director of the Advanced Centre for Atmospheric Radar Research at Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) said Kasargod, Kannur, Wayanad, Calicut, and Malappuram districts have been receiving copious rainfall due to the active monsoon offshore trough affecting the entire Konkan region for the last two weeks. (PTI)