Vehicles washed away in floodwaters could be seen stuck in tree trunks and submerged here and there in many places
JK News Today/Agencies
Wayanad (Kerala), July 30: The toll rose to 41 in the landslides that hit Kerala’s hilly Wayanad district on Tuesday, district authorities said.
Of those killed, four people, including a child, died in Chooralmala town of the district, while a one-year-old child of a family from Nepal died in Thondernad village, according to the authorities.
Besides that, three bodies, including that of a five-year-old, were recovered from the banks of a river near Pothukal village, they said.
Additionally, hundreds are feared to be trapped, but the authorities have not confirmed the same.
State Revenue Minister K Rajan said that over 70 persons who were injured in the landslides have been admitted to various hospitals.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed concern over the incident and said that he spoke to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and assured all possible help from the Centre to the state.
Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi also spoke to Vijayan and expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy. He called for urgent rescue and relief operations.
Multiple NDRF teams, two helicopters and other rescue efforts are on their way to Mundakkai, which has been totally cut off by devastating landslides, the state government said.
State Revenue Minister K Rajan said one team of NDRF is working to clear the debris and create access as they progress towards Mundakkai.
Three more NDRF teams from Kollam, Arakkonam, and Bengaluru are also on their way, Rajan said.
“Mundakkai is in the foothills of a nearby mountain. The issue is that the area was totally cut off due to the destruction of a bridge. Now efforts are on to make a temporary bridge to facilitate the crossing of the rescue team,” Rajan said.
The state government also sought the assistance of the Indian Army for rescue operations.
A Defence PRO said that a team of 43 personnel, led by the Second-in-Command from the 122 Infantry Battalion (TA) MADRAS, has been mobilised to aid in the ongoing rescue efforts.
The team, comprising a Medical Officer, two Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs), and 40 soldiers, is equipped to provide critical assistance in the affected area.
Their deployment aims to augment existing rescue operations and provide relief to those affected by the landslides.
Police and the Health department have started multiple call centres and control rooms.
The CM held a high-level evaluation meeting and visited the State Disaster Management Authority office in the state capital to assess the situation.
Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Noolpuzha villages were among the areas affected and cut off by the landslides, authorities said.
According to district authorities, several families have been moved to the various camps or homes of their relatives in the wake of the landslides.
