Wayanad Landslide: Death Toll Surpasses 160; Rescue Operations Continue Amid Heavy Rainfall Warnings

Rescue efforts are set to continue on Thursday, August 1, 2024, following the devastating landslides in Chooral Mala and Mundakkai near Meppadi in Kerala's Wayanad district. The tragic events have claimed over 160 lives, with the death toll rising to at least 190 and more than 200 individuals sustaining injuries as of Wednesday.

The landslides, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday at around 2 a.m. and 4:10 a.m., caused significant destruction in the Mundakkai and Chooramala areas under the Vellarimala village of the Meppadi Panchayat. In the wake of these calamities, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted further adverse weather conditions. The IMD has issued a warning for 'heavy to very heavy rainfall' at isolated places in the region on August 1, with 'heavy' showers expected to continue the following day. Additionally, strong surface winds with speeds reaching 30-40 kmph, gusting up to 50 kmph, are anticipated intermittently over Kerala on July 31.

In response to the disaster, authorities have taken precautionary measures, including the closure of all educational institutions on Wednesday. A holiday has been declared in 11 districts, namely Kasaragod, Kannur, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Malappuram, Palakkad, Thrissur, Idukki, Ernakulam, Alappuzha, and Pathanamthitta, to ensure the safety of the residents.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed his condolences and announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹2 lakh for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for those injured. Additionally, Union Minister Nityanand Rai informed the Rajya Sabha that ₹145 crore has been allocated to Kerala from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to aid in relief efforts.

Kerala government has declared an official state mourning, with the national flag to be flown at half-mast. The government has canceled all of the planned public events and celebrations.

As rescue operations persist, the focus remains on providing assistance to those affected by the landslides, with efforts to locate and support survivors continuing amid challenging weather conditions.