The landslide triggered by heavy rains killed over 11 people in Kerala's hilly district of Wayanad. Authorities fear the death toll may rise as several are feared trapped under the debris.
The incident happened on Tuesday morning in the Chooralmala and Mundakkai villages of the district. While rescue operations have been initiated, the place remains cut off after the main bridge connecting Mundakkai to the main town has been washed away.
Kerala Health Minister Veena George said six bodies have been recovered and brought to Meppadi Community Health Centre and five to a private medical college in the district.
Horrible visuals of landslide coming in from Meppadi, Wayanad.
— أمينة Amina (@AminaaKausar) July 30, 2024
Urgent: A massive landslide in Meppadi, has claimed two lives. Appeal to MP .@RahulGandhi for immediate mobilization of Army and helicopters for rescue operations.
Hello .@priyankaGandhi, urgent intervention is… pic.twitter.com/jDAgBr2TM4
Major landslide in #Wayanad, #Kerala: At least 19 deaths confirmed, 400 families trapped in two cut-off villages.
— Rejimon Kuttappan (@rejitweets) July 30, 2024
.@RahulGandhi .@priyankagandhi pic.twitter.com/E2e3z4g0r2
Authorities said four people, including a child, died in the Chooralmala while one-year-old child of a Nepali family died in the Thondernad village. Two doctors from Odisha too have died in the mishap.
The Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Noolpuzha villages were among the areas affected and cut off by the landslides, authorities said.
Local MLA T Siddique told reporters that district authorities were drawing up plans to airlift people from the Mundakkai area. Two helicopters from the Indian Air Force have been deployed for rescue operations. "Currently, we have no complete information about those missing and dead in the landslides. Many areas have been cut off. NDRF personnel are trying to reach those places." he said.
According to the Kerala chief minister's office, 250 members of Fire and Rescue, Civil Defence, NDRF and Local Emergency Response Team are involved in the rescue operation in Wayanad Churalmala. An additional team of NDRF has been directed to reach the spot immediately.
Visuals from the area show uprooted trees, destroyed houses and swollen water bodies. Vehicles washed away by the floodwaters could be seen swamped by mud.
In a post on X, Modi said, "Distressed by the landslides in parts of Wayanad. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones and prayers with those injured. 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," he said.
