Kerala faced its most devastating natural calamity since the 2018 deluge, as a double catastrophe struck the rugged terrain of Wayanad early Tuesday.
Within a span of just two hours, two massive landslides unleashed their fury, engulfing a small town and multiple plantation villages, leaving a trail of destruction and chaos in their wake. The twin landslides in Wayanad have resulted in 126 reported deaths.
Around 100 people are reported missing. 196 people have been injured.
Rescue teams have been deployed, and 250 people have been evacuated. 3,069 people have moved into 45 relief camps in Wayanad.
The landslides were triggered by 572mm of rain in 48 hours. Land-use patterns, including construction and plantation activities, have contributed to the increasing frequency of landslides in Kerala.
The Prime Minister has assured all possible help from the Centre. Tamil Nadu CM Pinarayi Vijaya has released Rs 5 crore for relief measures and sent a rescue team to Kerala. The state government has deployed police and fire brigade disaster-response teams, and two IAF helicopters and the Navy’s River Crossing Team have joined the mission.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced that, as of evening, rescue teams had recovered 93 bodies, including 16 retrieved from the Chaliyar river in Pothukal village. Of the 34 bodies identified so far, 18 have been returned to their grieving families.
Undeterred, rescue teams pressed on, evacuating over 250 individuals and persistently combing through the rubble in search of survivors. Meanwhile, a total of 3,069 people have sought refuge in 45 relief camps established across Wayanad.
Read more: https://thelocaljournalist.com/train-derailment-in-jharkhand/
