Wayanad landslides highlights: CM Pinarayi Vijayan refutes Amit Shah’s claim that calamity warning was given earlier

By this evening, 167 bodies and 61 body parts were retrieved. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said 1,592 persons were rescued from the affected places, who were admitted in different hospitals.?

As many as 99 people are undergoing treatment and others were shifted to various relief camps.

Kerala and Karnataka sub-area General Officer Commanding (GOC) Major General V.T. Mathew said 100 more soldiers would soon join the rescue operations at Chooralmala.

According to the officials a 190-ft-long Bailey bridge is being constructed to connect the worst-affected areas of Mundakkai and Chooralmala to enhance the rescue operation.

The bridge, with a weight capacity of 24 tonne, is expected to be completed by tomorrow evening.

A second special Air Force plane carrying materials for a temporary bridge to the isolated Mundakkai from Chooralmala has arrived at Kannur International Airport from Delhi and Banglore, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced at a press conference.

The materials from Kannur airport are being taken to Wayanad by 17 trucks. An additional 100 army personnel also will soon arrive at the disaster site to support the rescue operation.

- PTI

Even though he accused Kerala of avoiding the early warning, Amit Shah said “...the Narendra Modi government will stand like a rock with the people and the government of Kerala...”?

“I do not want to accuse anyone of anything. This is the time to stand firm with the people and the government of Kerala....” The Union Home Minister said.

“Before 2014, India had a rescue-centric approach towards disaster, but after 2014, the Modi government is moving ahead with a zero casualty approach,” he said.

- PTI

As rains continued to lash various parts of Wayanad, the authorities directed people living in landslide-prone areas of the hill district to move to safer places at the earliest.

“People living in landslide prone areas and in places that have experienced landslides in previous years should be cautious,” District Collector D.R. Meghasree said.

In a statement, she mentioned places like Kurumbalakotta, Lakkidi, Manikunnumala, Sugandhagiri, and so on. She urged people there to be more vigilant. The Collector also informed that those who have been asked to move to the camps should shift from their residence at the earliest.

- PTI

The district administration said that 96 bodies, among the 167 died, were identified and post-mortem of 166 were completed.

Out of 61 body parts recovered, the post-mortem of 49 was completed, it said. Of the 167 bodies, 75 were handed over to relatives or next of kin, it further said.

According to the administration, 219 people were admitted to hospitals from the disaster-hit areas and 78 of them are still undergoing treatment.

- PTI

Tamil Nadu Congress President K Selvaperunthagai stated that the Tamil Nadu Congress is going to provide ?1 crore as a relief fund for the Wayanad landslide disaster.

Mr. Selvaperunthagai said, “Unfortunately, landslides have occurred in Wayanad. Around 300 people are missing and rescue operations are taking place. The Union Government should send more National Disaster Management Forces. They have to give more money and relief to the people...”

He further said that the Tamil Nadu Congress MPs and MLAs are planning to give Wayanad a one-month salary as a relief fund.

- ANI

Wayanad district administration confirmed that 167 people dead in Wayanad landslides. 167 bodies and 61 body parts have been retrieved by 7 p.m. today.

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama today expressed sadness over the devastation caused by massive landslides in Wayanad in Kerala.

In a letter to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the Dalai Lama, who is in New York at present recovering after surgery, conveyed his condolences over the loss of lives.

Tibetan leader also said, he has asked the Dalai Lama Trust to make a donation towards the relief and rescue efforts.

- PTI

BJP MP Tejaswi Surya attacked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who has represented Wayanad, alleging that he never raised the issue of landslides in his constituency.

His remarks led to protests by Congress members forcing Speaker Om Birla to briefly adjourn the proceedings.

When the House resumed proceedings, Congress MP KC Venugopal asserted that as Wayanad MP, Gandhi had raised the issue of eco-sensitive Wayanad on several occasions. He claimed that Surya was trying to sabotage the debate and he will have to apologise for making “false claims” about Gandhi.

“House records will prove that Rahul Gandhi has raised the issue several times,” Mr. Venugopal added.

- PTI

“What has happened in Wayanad is not a natural disaster. It is a man-made disaster. I am not saying this, ecological experts from Kerala are saying this.” BJP MP Tejasvi Surya told ANI.

“In 2020, the Disaster Management Authority of Kerala told the Kerala govt to remove 4,000 families from all the illegal settlements on the Eastern Slope of the Western Ghats of Wayanad.” He added.

He also said that former MP of Wayanad Rahul Gandhi never raised questions about it.

China today expressed condolences to the families of the victims of the landslides at Wayanad and wished the injured speedy recovery.

“We would like to express our deep condolences to the victims, sincere sympathy to the families of the victims and the injured, and wish the injured a speedy recovery,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told a media briefing answering a question.

- PTI

Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani today announced that he is pledging a contribution of ?5 crore to the Kerala Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund to help the state whose hilly region on Wayanad was hit by devastating landslides triggered by incessant rains.

“Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life in Wayanad. My heart goes out to the affected families,” Gautam Adani wrote on his X timeline, as he extended condolences to the Wayanad flood victims.

- ANI

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi is continuously monitoring the situation in Kerala’s Wayanad district in the aftermath of the landslides and all possible help is being extended to the state by the Centre,” the government told the Rajya Sabha today.

Replying to the Calling Attention Motion on the Wayanad landslide tragedy, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said: “I am stating with sadness, that whatever information has been made available so far, rescue workers have taken out 133 bodies so far. The casualties may rise further.”

“Today itself a sum of ?145 crore has been disbursed from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to the Kerala government and there is a balance sum of Rs 394 crore in the SDRF,” Mr. Rai said.

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi urged the Centre to extend all possible help to the people of Wayanad, earlier today.

- PTI

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will visit landslides-hit Wayanad on August 1 and meet several families affected by the natural calamity, sources said.

The former MP of Wayanad Priyanka Gandhi were scheduled to visit Wayanad Wednesday morning but they put off the visit as authorities informed them that they would not be able to land due to incessant rain and adverse weather conditions.

Congress sources said the two leaders would visit relief camps at the Government Higher Secondary School and St Joseph UP School, Meppadi. They would also visit Dr Moopen’s Medical College, Meppadi.

- PTI

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday refuted Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s claim that the state government was warned as early as July 23 regarding a possible natural calamity in Wayanad due to heavy rains.

Mr. Vijayan said that the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had only issued an orange alert in the district ahead of the landslides. However, the district received over 500 millimeters of rainfall, which was extremely higher than what was predicted by the IMD.

“A red alert was issued for the district only after the landslides hit there on Tuesday morning,” Mr. Vijayan said at a press conference Thiruvananthapuram.

The CM also said that this was not the time for “blame game” and that he was not taking Shah’s remarks in an adversarial manner.

- PTI

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday urged the government to extend all possible help to the people of landslides-hit Wayanad and look into the “ecological issue” there.

He also urged the Centre to come up with a high-tech solution for preventing such tragedies in the future.

- PTI

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that over 200 people were admitted to hospitals and 5,592 people were rescued from the landslides-ravaged areas of the high-range district.

Besides that, 8,017 people, including children and pregnant women, relocated to the 82 camps functioning in that district, he said in a press conference.?

- PTI

“Not just Kerala. I would like to make an appeal to people all over the country that it is our duty to come to the rescue and help of these unfortunate victims of the landslides,” said Mr.Khan

- PTI

Credits: Special Arrangement

In his speech, Mr. Surya says that Kerala State Forest Minister K. Raju had, in 2021, said the Kerala Legislative Assembly “admitted” that encroachment from landslide-prone areas could not be removed because of “pressure from religious organisations”.?

Mr. Surya also blames Rahul Gandhi, former Wayanad MP, for not raising the issue in Parliament. Follow live updates here

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on July 31 announced a compensation of ?5 lakh to the families of Kannadigas who died in landslides in neighbouring Kerala.

According to government sources, “at least six people from the state are feared dead in July 29’s landslide.”

“The death toll in Wayanad landslide continues to rise. This is a very deadly tragedy, the fact that Kannadigas lost their lives in this tragedy made it even more painful,” the CM said in a post on ‘X’.

According to him, already two senior IAS officers of the state, the National Disaster Response Force team and army teams are engaged in rescue work in Wayanad.

- PTI

Students from a Government Higher Secondary School at Meppadi here are tirelessly volunteering in the relief camps, working diligently to assist survivors of the massive landslides that hit the high-range district with food and supplies.

School teachers are also playing a crucial role, motivating and supporting the students, many of whom are part of the NSS and NCC programmes, in their efforts.

They are not only providing physical assistance but also offering emotional support, helping survivors cope both mentally and physically. “The people residing here are our friends and their families. We are deeply saddened by this incident, but I am happy to help,” Aldriya, a student volunteer.?

- PTI

In a statement in the Upper House regarding the Wayanad landslides, MoS Home Affairs Nityanand Rai stated, “The Centre has provided all possible assistance to the State government since the incident was reported. As per the latest reports, over a thousand people have been rescued. Multiple teams from the armed forces, NDRF, and SDRF are conducting rescue and search operations. A dog squad has also been deployed.”

Expressing solidary with the people of Kerala, Union Home Minister Amit Shah informed the Upper House that an early warning system alert was given. Responding to the discussion on Wayanad landslides, the Minister said, “On July 23, nine battalions of the NDRF were deployed following an alert. An additional three teams were sent yesterday. If the alert had been taken seriously earlier, the situation might not have gotten worse.”?

“However, now is not the time for blame. Instead, we must show solidarity with the people and the State government of Kerala. Regardless of party politics, the Modi government remains committed to supporting Kerala through this tragic incident,” the Minister added in Rajya Sabha.

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The aim is to help the survivors overcome the distress caused by the tragedy as many had lost their family members and relatives in the massive landslips that hit Mundakkai, Chooramala and Attamala on early on July 30.

A medical point, including an oxygen ambulance, is being set up at the control room at Chooralmala in Wayanad, one of the sites of devastating landslides, so as to provide emergency medical attention to those being rescued from the mass of dirt and debris on the site.?

The decision to this effect was taken at a high-level meeting held at the Wayanad Collectorate on July 31 morning.

A senior official will be engaged as the nodal officer at this medical point to coordinate things. Adequate number of doctors and health workers will also be deployed here. Doctors’ teams from four cooperative medical colleges, including the ones at Kozhikode and Thalassery are preparing to reach Wayanad, Minister for Cooperation V.N. Vasavan said at the meetin.

Trained professionals affiliated to the Kerala wing of the Indian Association of Clinical Psychologists (IACP) are extending a helping hand to the survivors of the devastating landslides in Wayanad.

It has initiated a two-way approach by offering counselling services over phone and conducting one-to-one sessions at the relief camps opened in the affected regions. The aim is to help the survivors overcome the distress caused by the tragedy as many had lost their family members and relatives in the massive landslips that hit Mundakkai, Chooramala and Attamala on early on July 30.

The University of Calicut has postponed all the exams scheduled till August 2 in view of the rains. The new schedule will be announced later. Colleges in Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad, Wayanad, and Thrissur are under its jurisdiction.?

- A. S. Jayanth

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi will arrive in Wayanad on August 1, where they will visit relief camps and meet injured persons receiving medical treatment. Their visit, initially planned for Wednesday, was postponed due to inclement weather. - Biju Govind

A Cabinet meeting chaired by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan early on July 31 decided to intensify the ongoing search and rescue mission in the landslide-ravaged Wayanad district by deploying more personnel and equipment.

Read the full story here

Climate change, fragile terrain and loss of forest cover created a perfect recipe for the disastrous landslides that struck Kerala’s Wayanad district, according to studies conducted over the years.?

According to the landslide atlas released by the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) National Remote Sensing Centre last year, 10 out of the 30 most landslide-prone districts in India were in Kerala, with Wayanad ranked 13th.

It said 0.09 million square kilometres in the Western Ghats and the Konkan hills (Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, and Maharashtra) were prone to landslides.

“The vulnerability of inhabitants and households is more significant in the Western Ghats due to the very high population and household density, especially in Kerala,” the report read.?

According to scientists, climate change was increasing the possibility of landslides in the Western Ghats, one of the eight “hottest hotspots” of biological diversity in the world.?

PTI

Wayanad, which is grappling with the horror of the deadly July 30 landslide disaster, was among several places in Kerala that had featured high on a national-level database created by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in 2023 based on exposure to landslides in terms of “key socio-economic parameters.”

Read the full story here

Mobilisation of humanitarian aid is in full swing for victims of landslides that hit Wayanad district in Kerala with the support of various district administrations and socio-cultural organisations in the State. Collection centres have been opened at several places to receive packaged food items, emergency medicines, clothes and sanitation accessories for speedy delivery.

Read the full story here

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Past landslides in India

A Flourish data visualization by Graphics Team 2

The Commandant of the Para Regimental Training Centre, Brigadier Arjun Seagan, said that 500 to 600 personnel from the NDRF, Army, State Police, forest officials, and volunteers have been carrying out the rescue operations.?

He further added that the teams present are trying to build the bridge again to enable faster movement of the earth-moving equipment and make the digging process easier.?

“The rescue operations have been ongoing since yesterday morning. Yesterday, due to bad weather conditions, the rescue teams were not able to rescue a lot of people. Around 500 to 600 personnel from the NDRF team, Army, State Police, forest officials, and volunteers have been carrying out the rescue operations today. We are trying our best to build the bridge again so that we can move the earth-moving equipment inside and make the digging process easier. We have been doing the process manually as of now,” he said.?

Further, he added that the airlifting would be started as soon as the weather conditions improved.

ANI

The disaster management authority has initiated measures to shift more families from the landslide-prone upland areas of Kozhikode district in Kerala. Intensified action comes in the wake of the multiple incidents of landslides which affected various villages under Thamarassery and Vadakara taluks in Kozhikode district.

People who earlier expressed unwillingness to cooperate with the relocation requests have been found responding positively to the call in the wake of the emergency situation. Vanimel panchayat is reportedly having the highest number of families affected by the recent incidents of landslides and flash floods. On July 30 alone, 13 houses were destroyed in landslips.

Read the full story here

The Congress’ parliamentary party observed a moment of silence to pay homage to those killed in the Wayanad landslides and in the flooding of the basement of a coaching centre in Delhi’s Old Rajinder Nagar area.

Congress parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, party president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chief Rahul Gandhi, among others, attended the general body meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Party in the Central Hall of the Samvidhan Sadan.

The Congress MPs observed a moment of silence at the start of the meeting to pay tributes to those who lost their lives in the Wayanad landslides and the death of three UPSC aspirants.

PTI

Union Minister George Kurian has said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is closely monitoring the landslide situation in Kerala’s Wayanad district, with the Central Government assuring all possible assistance to the State for the rescue efforts of those affected by the tragedy. Mr. Kurian visited the people affected by the landslide in Wayanad.

“The situation is being monitored by the Central Government at the highest level. The Honourable Prime Minister is monitoring the situation and has deputed me to visit the affected areas.

“Both control rooms of the Ministry of Home Affairs are monitoring the situation 24x7 and providing all possible assistance to the state,” he is quoted as saying in a press release on Wednesday.

PTI

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah appealed to the corporate world to contribute generously for the relief and rehabilitation of people hit by massive landslides in Wayanad district in neighbouring Kerala.

In a message to the corporates, Mr. Siddaramaiah exhorted them to help rebuild the affected areas through the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative.

“The scale of the disaster necessitates a coordinated and generous response from all sectors of society, particularly from corporate entities that have always been pillars of support in times of need,” the CM said in his letter.

He further said Karnataka is specifically looking for financial support to facilitate the logistics of relief operations and rebuilding efforts and food supplies, especially non-perishable food items and clothing.

PTI

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra put off their scheduled Wednesday morning visit to landslide-hit Wayanad after authorities informed them that they would not be able to land due to incessant rain and adverse weather conditions.

The Congress leaders said they would visit the district as soon as possible.?

In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi said, “Priyanka and I were scheduled to visit Wayanad tomorrow to meet with families affected by the landslide and take stock of the situation.” “However, due to incessant rains and adverse weather conditions, we have been informed by authorities that we will not be able to land,” he added.?

1. All six columns will execute rescue operations in conjunction with NDRF and Civil Administration.
2. Construction of a bridge on the Meepadi - Chooralmala Road will commence, including the induction of certain earth-moving equipment to the other side of the stream utilizing air effort.
3. An aerial reconnaissance by Brigadier Seagan and the ETF Commander is planned for 09:30 hours.
4. Additional resource requirements will be assessed based on the aerial reconnaissance and the needs of the civil administration.

The Indian Army continues to lead rescue operations in the wake of the devastating landslide in Wayanad, Kerala. The current status of operations as of 06:00 a.m. is as follows:

1. Combined Efforts: Four columns from DSC Centre, Kannur, and 122 TA Battalion are conducting combined rescue operations alongside NDRF and State rescue teams.
2. Rescue and Recovery: Approximately 1,000 individuals have been rescued, and around 70 deceased individuals have been recovered.
3. Engineer Task Force (ETF) Deployment: An advance party from MEG & Centre (strength: 01 officers, 01 JCO, 03 ORs) reached the site at 19:00 hours and is conducting reconnaissance on the Meppadi-Chooralmala Road to establish the requirement for bridge resources in the affected areas.
4. Command and Coordination Brigadier Arjun Seagan, Commandant of the PARA Regiment Training Centre, arrived with his team (strength: 02 officers, 04 JCOs, 24 ORs) at 23:00 hours. They conducted a reconnaissance of a potential bridge site and established a Control Centre for coordinating the Indian Army’s HADR efforts, supported by the Commandant of the DSC Centre.
5. Airlifted HADR ColumnsTwo HADR columns, including two medical teams, were airlifted from Trivandrum to Kozhikode by AN32 and C-130 aircraft (strength: 6 officers, 7 JCOs, 121 ORs). They arrived at Kozhikode airport at 23:00 hours and stayed overnight. Movement of fuel and other administrative stores is planned by road, with the columns set to move to their designated location at 06:30 hours to execute rescue operations.
6. Engineer Task Force Equipment The ETF from MEG & Centre (strength: 01 officer, 02 JCOs, 120 ORs), including one JCB and TATRA and one set of 110 feet T/S Bailey Bridge, reached the location at 03:00 hours. These resources will be deployed based on inputs from the advance party’s detailed reconnaissance.
7. Additional Bailey BridgesTwo additional sets of Bailey Bridges from MEG & Centre commenced movement by road at 05:00 hours.
8. Airlift of Additional ResourcesA C-17 aircraft carrying one set of Bailey Bridge from Engineers Stores Depot, Delhi Cantt and three Search and Rescue Dog Teams is being loaded at Delhi Airport with an estimated departure time of 07:00 hours.

The outpour had slowed on July 30, but not enough to avert the? tragedy that struck Wayanad? in Kerala in the wee hours of the day. A glance through the amount of rain that battered the State reveals that a station called Thettamala in Wayanad received a whopping amount of 409 mm of rain during the 24 hours ending at 8.30 a.m. on Tuesday. Even Vadakkanecherry in central Kerala received 340 mm of rainfall during the same period, perhaps one of the heaviest rains the State had seen during the opening two months of the southwest monsoon season.?

?Read the full story here. ?

Harrowing scenes of dead bodies in sitting and lying positions inside destroyed houses could be seen as rescue operations resumed in the landslide-devastated Mundakkai hamlet in Kerala’s Wayanad district on Wednesday morning.

The rescuers could reach many inland areas, which were totally cut off, Wednesday morning only.?

According to visuals aired on TV channels, at one place, army personnel could be seen breaking the tin roof of a house that was completely submerged in mud and using ropes to reach inside to retrieve the bodies of those trapped there.

A local man, who went inside one such house, said he saw mud-covered bodies in sitting positions on chairs and lying down on cots.?

PTI

Ecologist Madhav Gadgil, who was the chairman of the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP), has termed the disaster in Wayanad a man-made tragedy, attributing it to the Kerala government’s failure to implement crucial ecological recommendations.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Gadgil criticised the State government for not adhering to the panel’s guidelines designed to prevent such disasters amid extreme climate changes.?

Mr. Gadgil highlighted that the panel’s report had classified the region into three levels of ecological sensitivity, with the areas now struck by the disaster being marked as highly sensitive.?

Rescue operations to bring stranded persons to safety from the landslide-affected areas in Mundakali and Chooralmala in Wayanad began today morning.?

The death toll has risen to 150, with 91 persons still missing. Four teams of NDRF and Army personnel and volunteers have fanned out to isolated areas.?

A second MEG team will reach the site by evening to construct the Bailley bridge to transport rescue workers and heavy equipment across the river.

Health Minister Veena George was admitted to the Government Medical College at Manjeri in Malappuram on Wednesday after she suffered minor injuries in a road accident in the morning.?

The Minister was on her way to landslide-hit Wayanad when her car hit an electric post at Chettiyangadi in Manjeri around 7:30 a.m. The incident happened when the vehicle reportedly swerved to avoid hitting an oncoming scooter. Those on the scooter too were taken to the hospital.?

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Wayanad landslide | Hope and desperation as families wait for kith and kin

Tragic landslides in Wayanad leave families searching for missing loved ones at a crowded health centre.