143 people have died due to heavy rains in Wayanad, and all three forces are engaged in rescue operations to deal with the situation, and the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert.
Massive landslide and flood in Kerala: Army and Air Force started rescue activities
Wayanad Rain: Heavy rains caused widespread devastation in the Wayanad district of Kerala in the early hours of Tuesday. This rain caused landslides in the hilly areas, completely washing away four villages. 143 people have died and 128 people have been injured in this disaster, many of whom are said to be in critical condition. Many people are also feared missing.
Two JCOs and 40 soldiers of the Army are engaged in rescue operations. The Air Force has also sent two helicopters to speed up relief and rescue operations. Meanwhile, the Indian Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for all northern districts of Kerala, warning of extremely heavy rainfall within the next 24 hours.
Two days of mourning have been declared in Kerala on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Landslides and floods in Kerala: Army and Air Force begin rescue operations, PM announces aid
Landslides and floods in Kerala: Heavy rains in the early hours of Tuesday have led to a serious situation of landslides and floods in the Wayanad district of Kerala. Four villages were swept away in this disaster, 143 people have died and 128 people have been injured, many of whom are in critical condition. Many people are also missing.
Regarding the deployment of military forces, two JCOs and 40 jawans of the Army are engaged in rescue operations, while the Air Force has sent two helicopters to assist in relief operations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed condolences over the tragic incident and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund to the families of the deceased. Also, the injured will be provided with an assistance amount of Rs 50,000.
It is worth noting that this is the biggest natural disaster in Kerala in the last six years. In the floods in August 2018, 483 people died in the state.
The devastation continued throughout the night
Four villages in Kerala affected by the havoc of landslides: According to officials, the series of landslides started at 2 am in the Wayanad district of Kerala, and by 6 in the morning, three major landslide incidents were reported. Mundakkai, Choorlammala, Attmala, and Noolpuzha villages were badly affected due to these incidents.
During this time people were asleep, and they did not get any chance to recover. Due to the landslide, many houses collapsed, vehicles were washed away, water-filled reservoirs and many trees were uprooted.
So far 34 dead have been identified, out of which the bodies of 18 have been handed over to their families. Relief and rescue operations are continuing rapidly in the affected areas, and the local administration is making every effort to normalize the situation.
A landslide also caused massive destruction in Kozhikode:
One person missing, several houses and roads damaged: Landslides caused severe damage in Vilangadu and Malayangadu areas of Kozhikode district on Tuesday. After this incident, one person went missing, several houses were damaged and bridges and roads were washed away.
According to officials, about 15 families have been completely cut off from the main area due to the bridge being washed away in Malayangadu. People living on the river bank have been shifted to relief camps at safe places. Rescue operations are going on rapidly under the leadership of the NDRF team so that the affected people can be helped and the situation can be controlled.
Several teams engaged in relief and rescue operations after a landslide in Kerala
All three forces engaged in rescue operations: According to officials, relief and rescue operations have been intensified after the landslide in Wayanad, Kerala. A team of 43 personnel led by the second-in-command of 122 Infantry Battalion (TA) Madras has been deployed for rescue operations. The Army Engineering Group has also reached the affected areas and is engaged in handling the situation.
The Air Force has sent MI-17 and Dhruv helicopters carrying relief material and rescue teams. 30 Navy divers have also reached the spot. In addition, a naval team from Ezhimala Naval Academy has left to assist in the rescue efforts in Wayanad. A battalion of the Territorial Army will also be deployed.
The NDRF has sent four teams for rescue operations, and 67 Defense Security Corps (DSC) personnel led by six officers have reached Wayanad in ambulances and trucks loaded with supplies. Heavy machinery and teams of sniffer dogs are also being sent to the affected areas by air. All these efforts are expected to speed up relief and rescue operations and provide quick assistance to the affected people.
Indian Air Force 🇮🇳 continues rescue operations in landslide affected areas of #Wayanad, Kerala
— News IADN (@NewsIADN) July 31, 2024
Dhruv helicopters along with Garud Special Force Commandos are also involved in the rescue ops. pic.twitter.com/pLf8CdYAQJ
Difficulty in rescue operations in landslide tragedy: Number of dead unknown due to recovery of organs
According to sources, after landslides and floods, rescue workers are finding various organs from rivers and mud. It has become extremely difficult to identify these organs and ensure whether they belong to the same person or many people.
Estimating the exact number of dead has become even more challenging in this situation. The help of local people is being taken in this work so that the identification process can be completed quickly. Many women and children are also included among the dead.
At present, every possible effort is being made to understand the situation and conduct relief operations effectively.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inquired about the status of rescue operations in Wayanad
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi over the phone to know the status of rescue and relief operations going on in landslide-hit Wayanad. During this conversation, he got information about the progress of rescue operations, the seriousness of the situation, and the assistance required.
The Defence Minister has also given instructions to prioritize relief operations and provide prompt assistance to the affected people. His initiative is important to improve the situation and help the affected in this hour of crisis.
Heavy rains expected in Wayanad: Concerns of impact on rescue operations
Red Alert’ of heavy rains: The Meteorological Department has predicted heavy rains after the landslide in Wayanad district, raising concerns of hampering rescue operations. The department neighboring issued a red alert for Wayanad as well as its neighboring districts Malappuram, Kozhikode, and Kannur on Tuesday.
It is feared that these areas may receive heavy rains during the next twenty hours. Apart from this, intermittent heavy rains are likely to continue across the state for the next seven days. This situation may further increase the difficulties of rescue operations, so relief and rescue teams are taking all possible measures so that timely assistance can be provided to the affected people.
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