Kerala: Death toll at 63, 116 injured in landslides in Wayanad

Wayanad (Kerala) [India], July 30 (ANI): The death toll has risen to 63 and around 116 people were injured in the landslides that hit the Meppadi area of Kerala’s Wayanad, the Kerala Revenue Minister’s office said on Tuesday.

A total of three camps have been setup in Wayanad, given the situation. 12 are undergoing treatment in Kalpetta Government Hospital and 77 are in WIMS Wayanad. 8 deaths were reported in WIMS and one each in Meppadi Community Health Centre and Vythiri Taluk Hospital. 27 injured people are undergoing treatment at Meppadi CHC.

35 were reported dead and 27 are undergoing treatment at Bathery Taluk Hospital.

Kerala Forest Minister Saseendran reached the affected area to assess the damage and coordinate immediate response measures, state minister Ramachandran Kadannappalli will be soon joining the efforts on the ground.

In addition, a delegation of state ministers of Revenue, Public Works, and Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Departments are travelling by air from Thiruvananthapuram and are expected to reach the site soon, as per the Kerala chief minister’s office.

Union Minister of State George Kurian is heading to Wayanad to lead relief and rescue operations. The minister, on the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi will coordinate with National Disaster Relief Force personnel, paramilitary forces, Kerala Government officials and other agencies in the operation.

An Indian Navy team from the Ezhimala Naval Base in Kannur is being sent to the district in Kerala to assist in the rescue operations at Chooralmala that was hit by landslides on Tuesday morning, following torrential rains.

The Navy team is being despatched, at the request of Chief Minister Pinrayi Vijayan, who sought the help of the Navy’s River Crossing team, according to the Chief Minister’s Office. The Army and Air Force have also been mobilised for the rescue operations in the area, which have been hampered as a main bridge has collapsed in the town of Chooralmala.

Earlier, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan held discussions with top Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) officials on the situation in the landslide-affected Wayanad areas.

Around 200 Indian Army personnel from DSC Centre Kannur, 122 TA Battalion from Kozhikode despatched to the site. A team of 30 specialists swimmers from Indian Navy being deployed. Two helicopters from Air Force station Sulur has been despatched, as per the Defence officials.