84 Died due to Landslides in Kerala's Wayanad: Govt
Moneylife Digital Team 30 July 2024
Eighty-four people have died in a massive landslide at Churalpara in Kerala's Wayanad, says V Venu, chief secretary of Kerala in a statement. 
 
Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the state government is deeply saddened by the tragic incident that claimed numerous lives and resulted in the widespread destruction of homes and other property. 
 
Taking into account the grave tragedy, the state will observe two days of official mourning on Tuesday and Wednesday. "On both these days, the National Flag will fly at half mast and all official engagements of the Kerala government have been postponed," the chief secretary says in an official notification.
 
Union minister of state for home Nityanand Rai told the Rajya Sabha that several are injured, two have been rescued alive from the debris and 250 have moved to safe places. The landslides occurred in Wayanad on Tuesday morning.
 
"I would like to express with grief that 70 bodies have been recovered. Many are injured. Two people have so far been rescued alive from the debris and 250 moved to safe places," the minister says.
 
Mr Venu told local media, "Around 2am, landslides took place at least two to three times. At this point, few affected areas are cut off. The weather is also adverse for NDRF teams who want to go to some of these affected areas. Everyone is on alert. We will carry out the rescue in a coordinated manner. We are still ascertaining about how many people are trapped. All options, including airlifting people, are being looked into to ensure rescue work is carried out."
 
The worst affected areas are Churalpara, Velarimala, Mundakayil and Pothukalu and the locals from these areas who managed to escape are shattered as hundreds of homes have been totally buried or destroyed.
 
Rescue operations under the aegis of the NDRF, Navy, Army, police and the fire department along with the local people, are continuing.
 
A special ropeway has now been put up at Churalmala and the rescue teams have managed to reach the marooned area. They hope to rescue the people trapped in the area shortly.
Comments
barokhoka1956
9 months ago
I am waiting when the Waynard MP might start barking.
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