Seenath is still in shock. As a resident of Chooramala, which turned into a scene of deep sorrow early this morning, she is struggling to comprehend the tragedy that has befallen her neighbours and close relatives. The nearby villages of Mundakkai, Attamala, Vellarimala, and Chooramala in Wayanad have become disaster zones after being severely affected by consecutive landslides. At the time of writing this report, more than 90 bodies have already been recovered from the region. The dead include many children.
“Around 2 am, there was a loud noise as a landslide occurred in Mundakkai, sending debris down to Chooramala,” recalls Seenath. “Around 4 am, a second, more severe landslide occurred. Many of those who had escaped the first landslide lost their lives in this second one,” says Seenath.
N.K. Sukumaran, member of Attamala ward in Meppadi Grama panchayat, tells THE WEEK that nobody knows how many are still under the debris. “We are recovering bodies. There are too many. More than 1000 families have been residing in Attamala, Mundakkai, and Chooramala wards alone,” he said over the phone amid being engaged in rescue activities.
The only bridge to Mundakkai across the Chaliyar River was swept away in the landslide, rendering the area inaccessible. Rescue teams, including fire force personnel, have managed to reach the site by using ropes to cross the river.
“For the past one and a half month, it has been raining continuously here, with particularly heavy rainfall in the last three days,” says Seenath. “Given the Mundakkai region's history with landslides, authorities had issued warnings. The panchayat even preemptively relocated many families, especially from the ST colony in Mundakkai. Others were also warned. However, I'm not sure if there was a house-to-house campaign to ensure people moved to safer locations. Some went to stay with relatives, but many did not evacuate. Compared to Mundakkai, fewer people moved from Chooramala.”
For the past three days, electricity was available only intermittently in the region. "By yesterday evening, there was no power at all. When the landslide occurred, there was no light or electricity, making nighttime rescue efforts difficult," recalls Seenath. Additionally, wild elephants came onto the road, adding to the chaos.
Seenath mentions that many of her relatives are missing. Fortunately, her immediate family, including her husband, two children, and mother, is safe. "But we are now in the process of moving from Chooramala to our relatives' house outside Meppadi," she says. "It's not safe here."
To coordinate rescue efforts, five ministers in the Pinarayi Vijayan's cabinet are currently in Wayanad. The Army has deployed a platoon to the region, and a 50-member team of river crossing experts from the Indian Navy has also arrived. Their expertise will be crucial for reaching Mundakkai, which remains isolated due to landslides. The Madras Engineering Group of the Army will work on establishing alternative connections to Mundakkai as the bridge has been destroyed. The state government has requested the Centre to send an Army dog squad. Additionally, drones and the state police dog squad are being utilised for search and rescue operations.
The Kerala government has declared today and tomorrow as official mourning days to honour the victims of the Wayanad tragedy. Meanwhile, heavy rains continue to batter the state, with eight districts currently under a red alert for heavy rainfall and possible cloud bursts. Landslides have been reported from several places, including Vilanagad in Kozhikode, where 15 families have been isolated.
