Wayanad Landslide: Rescuers Race Against Time as Death Toll Nears 300

Wayanad: Three days after a natural calamity hit Kerala, triggering devastating landslides in Wayanad district, burying several houses, shops under the debris, the death toll has now climbed to 282 on Thursday morning. The search and rescue operations continues with the Army and NDRF intensifying their efforts. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan called rescue operation a “massive one” and said that it will go on for coming days. 

Rajan, who is in the disaster-struck region coordinating the rescue efforts, said 1,300 personnel from various agencies and the armed forces carried out joint search-and-rescue operations in the area, braving the rains, winds and difficult terrain and without the help of heavy machinery.

Scores of people are still missing and hundreds receiving treatments after massive landslides struck the hilly areas near Meppadi in Wayanad. For the unversed, three landslides struck Wayanad within a span of four hours on Tuesday. 

Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Noolpuzha in Wayanad district were some of the worst hit by the landslides. Several people were feared to have been washed away in the Chaliyar river.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said due to the intense rainfall, landslides occurred, and an entire region was destroyed.

Latest Updates

• Death Toll Likely to Cross 300, Kerala CM says "all those who are alive” Rescued

After a review meeting at Kalpetta in Wayanad, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told the media that “all those who are alive have been saved in the last three days”. Around 170 persons are missing, as per official data released by the government. 

• IMD Predicts More Rain In 4 Northern districts of Kerala

The India Meteorological Department of Kerala has issued an orange alert in the Wayanad district until Saturday, which has already been affected by landslides claiming over 200 lives.

• We will help Those Children Who Are Left On Their Own Now, says Priyanka Gandhi 

 "We have spent a whole day meeting people who have suffered. It's an immense tragedy. We can only imagine the kind of pain the people are suffering. We are here to give as much comfort and support. There has been a big tragedy in Himachal Pradesh as well. Tomorrow, we plan to sit and chalk out how we can help especially the children who are left on their own now," Congress leader said. 
 

• Painful to See So Many People Have Lost Family Members And Their Houses, says Rahul Gandhi

• Mask Mandatory in Public Places, Kerala Government issues order as Epidemic, H1N1 scare looms 
•  Rescue Has Been Completed, says General Officer Commanding (GOC) Karnataka and Kerala Sub Area

"Right now, we are only retrieving the bodies. If there is anyone who is trapped in houses then we will rescue them. But it is a difficult task during the rains. 3 Army dogs are deployed here... We stop the rescue operations in the evening as it is dangerous. Our 5 teams are deployed here for the rescue operations," he said. 

• "Main priority rescue, Next Focus Rehabilitation": Kerala CM Vijayan 

"Our focus is to rescue those who were isolated and stranded. I appreciate the efforts of the Army personnel. They have informed us that most of the trapped individuals have been rescued. Bringing down machinery to rescue those trapped under the soil was difficult and building the bridge eased the efforts. The construction of Bailey Bridge has been mostly completed," CM Vijayan said while addressing the media in Wayanad.

• Trying our best to save as many people as possible, says NDRF DG

• Puducherry Assembly Condoles Victims of Wayanad Landslides

The Puducherry Assembly on Thursday mourned the death of several people in the landslides in Wayanad district in Kerala. As soon as the proceedings began, Speaker R Selvam made an obituary reference to the tragedy and said the House expressed its grief and sorrow over the incident in which scores of people died.

• Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Visit Landslide-hit Spot in Wayanad

Congress leader and former Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra visited the landslide-affected area of Chooralmala here on Thursday afternoon. After reaching the spot amidst the rain, they left for the Community Health Centre in Meppadi, party sources said.

• 4 Addl assistant collectors deployed to aid in Wayanad landslide

Four additional assistant collectors have been deployed to aid the Wayanad landslide response. Assistant collectors from Idukki, Palakkad, and Kozhikode districts have been deployed to support the Wayanad district administration in the aftermath of the landslide.

• 132 Army Personnel, 2 Helicopters Join Operations

As many as 132 Army personnel are engaged in relief and rescue operations in landslide-hit Wayanad. Two helicopters have also been pressed into service.

• Amit Shah to introduce bill to amend the disaster managetment act 2005

Days after Kerala landslide tragedy, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will introduce a bill to amend the disaster management act 2005 in Parliament on Thursday.

• Kerala Landslides: CM Vijayan to Chair All-party Meeting in Wayanad

An all-party meeting, chaired by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, will be held in the hill district on Thursday as search and rescue operations by various agencies and armed forces continue in the landslides-hit areas here. State ministers camping in the district, MLAs from Wayanad and political party leaders will participate in the meeting, the district administration said.

• Search and rescue operations continue at landslide-affected Chooralmala in Wayanad.   

• Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi arrived at Delhi airport to leave for landslide-hit Wayanad. Both the Congress leaders will visit Wayanad to take stock of the situation of the constituency which has been rocked by massive landslides.

• The Army has rescued nearly 1,000 people so far with several still feared trapped.
• Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the families of Kannadigas who died in landslides in neighbouring Kerala.
• Speaking at the Lok Sabha, Union Home Minister Amit Shah shed light on the Wayanad landslide and said, “This is a federal structure; we had warned the state to evacuate people.” 
• As per reports, there are around 8,017 people, including 19 pregnant women, in relief camps.
• West Bengal Governor Dr CV Ananda Bose, on Wednesday, visited relief camps and interacted with survivors in landslide-hit Wayanad in Kerala. Hailing from Kerala, Bose also visited certain landslide-hit sites in the hill district.