About 143 people died and about 186 others were injured after the landslides happened in Kerala’s Wayanad district. Hundred more are scared and trapped with government rescue operations in the affected areas. Many families have reported that their close ones are missing. The Army has successfully removed more than 1,000 people from affected areas till now. Brigadier Arjun Segan said, “Approximately 500 to 600 staffs from the NDRF team, Army, state police, forest officials, and volunteers are carrying out the rescue operations today.
The Air Force, the Naval teams, and helicopters have organized to help the NDRF and the Army. Kerala is hit by constant rain in the region; roads became blocked. The state recorded 372 mm of rainfall in 24 hours before three landslides took place in Wayanad district in four hours. The weather department assumed more rain in Wayanad and other districts over the upcoming days. An alert has been issued for Idukki, Wayanad, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur, and Kasargod districts. Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Ernakulam districts are under orange alert.
To those family members who lost their lives, the Prime Minister’s Office has declared repayment of Rs. 2 lakh, and those who are injured would be given Rs. 50,000. The landslide destroyed houses, water bodies, and trees. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan set up a meeting last evening to take stock of the rescue operations and review health and safety arrangements at the comfort camps.
