Wayanad : Wayanad, the hilly district of Kerala which is south India’s best tourist destination is facing one of the most difficult times ever with three landslides that wrecked havoc in the region. The landslides that was reported during the earlier hours of the day has took 63 lives and more than 80 people injured. As per reports, more than 250 people are reportedly missing in the region.
As per weather department, Wayanad and Malappuram reported 30 cm rainfall on July 29th and July 30th.
Malappuram SP Shasheendran words that eight dead bodies were found from the Chaliyar river which is 20 kilometers away from the landslide spot explains the magnitude of the landslide in Wayanad. Reports say that many are still feared to be trapped in the Chaliyar river in Malappuram.
The first Landslide was reported in Mundakkai at 1am on July 30th, while the subsequent landslides were reported in the next 2 hours.
Environmentalist Sridhar Ramakrishnan who spoke to News9 said that the revenue department has failed to relocate the families in the landslide prone region even as there was red alert and a possibility of a landslide that was already predicted by the weather department.
“This is a criminal offense by the concerned authorities including the revenue and the forest department. Even after issuing signals of a probable landslide in the area, what were the government waiting for?. This is an unpardonable offense that is done. Most of these constructions including houses and resorts are clearly built in ecologically sensitive land”, he said to News9.
The biggest challenge before the rescue team is the land terrain and the bridge that was washed away in the flash floods following the Landslides. As per reports, more than 80 people are severely injured in the landslides reported in Wayanad.
A Town called Mundakkai washed away in the rains
Mundakkai, a small hill town with people engaged mostly in agriculture and allied activities have been completely washed away in the rain. The helicopter visuals and personal accounts say that apart from few houses and shops, nothing is left in the small town. However, 250 people in this small town is trapped and is seeking the help of the rescue team.
The army team has reached the spot of the landslides in Chooral Mala in Wayanad. The total death toll has touched 63 Kerala States News India: Top News India, States News, States News Headlines, Online State News India, State Politics news
