As Wayanad woke up to a heavy downpour on Tuesday, the region faced a series of back-to-back massive landslides that swept through Chooralmala village, causing widespread destruction. Roads and bridges were obliterated, and bodies were seen floating in the rivers, painting a grim picture of the disaster.
Three catastrophic landslides struck between 2 am and 6 am, decimating a section of Chooralmala town, including shops and vehicles. Rescue personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), fire brigade, and police are still assessing the full extent of the damage.
“Authorities have confirmed that 45 people have died and hundreds are feared trapped,” according to local reports. Residents say that over 200 houses in Chooralmala village were washed away in the landslides, as reported by Onmanorama.
Also Read: Landslide In Wayanad: 24 Dead, Hundreds Feared Trapped
The collapse of the bridge over the Iruvazhinji River has significantly hindered rescue operations in Mundakkai, as it was the only bridge connecting Chooralmala and Mundakkai villages.
Further complicating the situation, minor landslides continue in the upper hills of the Wayanad district. The water level of the Chaliyar River has crossed the danger mark due to runoff from the Meppadi landslides.
To bolster the rescue efforts, a team from the Indian Army based in Wellington, Coonoor, has been deployed to Wayanad to assist and construct a temporary bridge to reach Mundakkai.
The Hume Centre for Ecology and Wildlife Biology, which monitors weather patterns in the region, recorded more than 300 mm of rain at multiple locations along the Western Ghats in the past 24 hours. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured the Kerala government of all possible assistance from the Centre.
Leader of the Opposition and former Lok Sabha MP from Wayanad, Rahul Gandhi, stated, “I will speak to Union ministers to request all possible assistance for Wayanad.”
Television visuals depicted relief personnel navigating through rocks and uprooted trees as muddy waters surged, with many houses destroyed. Relief efforts continued throughout Tuesday, with two helicopters from the Indian Air Force mobilized to aid in the operations, according to a statement from the Kerala chief minister’s office.