Wayanad landslides: 11 dead, confirms Kerala Health minister, rescue ops underway

At least 11 people have died in the landslides that hit Kerala’s Wayanad following torrential rain state health minister Veena George said on Tuesday.

The minister said that 11 deaths have been confirmed so far out of which bodies of six bodies were kept in the Meppadi Community Health Centre and five in private medical college.

The landslides hit areas in Meppadi Panchayat in Wayanad.

The Chief Minister’s Office said two Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters will leave for Wayanad from Sulur in Coimbatore. Two battalions of the Indian Army’s Defence Security Corps have moved to Wayanad from Kannur, the Chief Minister’s Office said.

The Army received a requisition for providing aid to civil authority this morning and in response the Army has mobilised four columns including two columns ex 122 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army) and two ex the DSC Centre, Kannur.

The total strength of Army deployed so far for the rescue operation is approximately 225 including medical personnel, the Army said in a statement.

A special control room has started functioning at the police headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram.

Public can provide information to the 24-hour control room at the phone numbers – 9497900402, 0471 2721566.

The control room functions under the direct control of the state police chief.

North Region IG and Kannur DIG is set to reach Wayanad shortly to lead relief operations.

The state police chief directed the law and order department ADGP to coordinate the operations.

Police personnel from four and five battalions of Kerala Armed Police and Malabar Special Police have embarked for Wayanad.

Kerala Revenue Minister K Rajan said that four bodies have been recovered from the Chaliayar river.

Rescue operations are underway and temporary bridges will be built to reach the spot. Four NDRF teams will reach Wayanad by noon.” Rajan said.

The minister said that it was difficult to ascertain the number of deceased.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of deceased in the landslides that hit Kerala’s Wayanad on Tuesday.

“The Prime Minister has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of each deceased in the landslides in parts of Wayanad,” PM Modi said in a post on X.

The post further said that the injured would be given Rs 50,000.

In a post of X, the Prime Minister said that he was distressed by the landslides in parts of Wayanad. “My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones and prayers are with those injured,” PM Modi said in another post.

PM Modi said that he spoke to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and assured all possible help from the Centre in the wake of the prevailing situation there.

Rescue operations are currently underway to assist all those affected, he added.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi also expressed anguish on the situation. Gandhi said that he spoke to the Kerala Chief Minister and the Wayanad District Collector, who assured him that rescue operations are underway.

“I have requested them to ensure coordination with all agencies, set up a control room, and inform us of any assistance needed for the relief efforts. I will speak to Union Ministers and request them to provide all assistance possible to Wayanad,” Rahul Gandhi said in a post on X.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has given directions to coordinate the rescue operations in Wayanad promptly following the devastating landslide. He announced that the entire government machinery is actively involved in the efforts, with Ministers overseeing and coordinating the operations.

As per the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority, landslides occurred in Meppadi panchayat, Vythiri taluk, at around 3.49 am on Tuesday.

250 members of the Fire and Rescue, Civil Defence, NDRF, and Local Emergency Response Teams are carrying out the rescue operation in Wayanad’s Chooralmala. An additional team of NDRF are en route, the KSDMA said.

The State Health Department has opened the district-level control room early in the morning. 8086010833 and 9656938689 can be contacted for emergency health services.

“All hospitals, including Vaithiri, Kalpatta, Meppadi, and Mananthavadi hospitals, are ready. In the night itself, all the health workers had arrived for service. More teams of health workers will be deployed in Wayanad,” the Health Minister said.