Wayanad Landslide: CM Pinarayi Vows Full Assistance as NDRF and Civil Defence Pressed into Action

Wayanad:  As devastating landslides hit Kerala's Wayanad, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday in a statement assured people of full assistance. He said that all government agencies have joined the search and rescue operations in the wake of massive landslides that struck various hilly areas near Wayanad's Meppadi district.

“All possible rescue operations will be coordinated in the landslides in Wayanad. Since the incident came to know, the government systems have joined together in the rescue operation. Ministers will come to Wayanad and lead the activities,” he said.

In a post shared on Facebook, the CM said, "250 members of Fire and Rescue, Civil Defence, NDRF and Local Emergency Response Team are involved in the rescue operation in Wayanad Churalmala. An additional team of NDRF has been directed to reach the spot immediately."

In another post, the CM stated that two teams of the Kannur Defense Security Corps will reach the scene of the Wayanad landslide for rescue operations. Meanwhile, two Air Force helicopters will be dispatched from Sulur at 7.30 am.

In the catastrophic landslides, two children including a one-year-old of a Nepali family are among five people killed while hundreds are feared dead.

In a video statement, UDF MLA T Siddique said that district authorities were drawing up plans to airlift people from the Mundakkai area.

"Currently, we have no complete information about those missing and dead in the landslides. Many areas have been cut off. NDRF personnel are trying to reach those places." he said.

Meanwhile, as per district authorities, several families have been moved to the various camps or homes of their relatives in the wake of the landslides.

Helpline Numbers Issued, Hospitals on Alert

In the wake of the catastrophic landslides, the Health Department opened the district-level control room and released two helpline numbers, 8086010833 and 9656938689, for emergency health services.

Meanwhile, all hospitals including Vaithiri, Kalpatta, Meppadi and Mananthavadi hospitals are ready.

Furthermore, Kerala Health Minister Veena George said that all health workers have arrived for service during the night.

More teams of health workers will be deployed in Wayanad.