At least 84 people have died and 116 injured after massive landslides triggered by heavy rains struck Kerala’s Wayanad district in the early hours of Tuesday, state authorities said.
Kerala Chief Secretary V. Venu confirmed that over 80 bodies have been recovered as rescue operations continue in the affected area.
“Relief and rescue operations are being conducted on a war footing,” Kerala Minister M.B. Rajesh told ANI. “The Chief Minister is closely monitoring the situation. He has dispatched a team of ministers to Wayanad, and an IAS officer will be stationed there to coordinate the rescue efforts,” he added.
The Kerala government has declared official mourning in the state on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of the deceased, while the injured will receive Rs 50,000. “Rescue ops are currently underway to assist all those affected. Spoke to Kerala CM Shri @pinarayivijayan and also assured all possible help from the Centre in the wake of the prevailing situation there,” PM Modi said on X earlier on Tuesday.
Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha and former MP from Wayanad, Rahul Gandhi, extended his condolences to the bereaved families and assured all possible assistance. “I have spoken to the Kerala Chief Minister and the Wayanad District Collector, who assured me that rescue operations are underway. I have requested them to ensure coordination with all agencies, set up a control room, and inform us of any assistance needed for the relief efforts,” Gandhi posted on X.
The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority said that the landslides occurred around 3:49 AM on Tuesday in the Meppadi area. The India Meteorological Department has forecast extremely heavy rain throughout the day.
Earlier, Kerala Forest Minister A.K. Saseendran told Reuters that the army had been roped in to construct a temporary bridge after the destruction of a bridge linking the affected area, which includes tea and cardamom estates, to the nearest town of Chooralmala.
Visuals posted by ANI on X showed soldiers using ropes to cross the swollen river to assist in rescue efforts in Chooralmala.
NDRF teams have also been deployed for relief operations. S. Shankar Pandian, Deputy Commandant of NDRF, said that three teams have been deployed in Wayanad. “Our teams are positioned at various locations in Wayanad. We are facing difficulties reaching the interior parts of the landslide-affected area,” he said. “Even in Kozhikode, a landslide was suspected, and an NDRF team was deployed there.”
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has instructed the Army Chief to mobilize forces for assistance in the landslide-hit area.
Approximately 200 army personnel from the DSC Centre Kannur and the 122 TA Battalion from Kozhikode have been sent to the site. A team of 30 specialist swimmers from the Indian Navy and two helicopters from the Sulur Air Force Station are also aiding the rescue operations, defence officials said.
(With input from agencies)