Wayanad landslides: Kerala Minister inspects arrangements at Health Department Directorate; recommends to set up temporary hospitals

Kerala (Thiruvananthapuram) [India], July 30 (ANI): Kerala Health Minister Veena George on Tuesday visited the Health Department Directorate and assessed the ongoing arrangements following massive landslides that struck the Meppadi area in Wayanad.

The Kerala Health Minister provided a detailed overview of the situation and instructed for precise tracking of available hospital beds in the affected areas.

Minister George recommended setting up temporary hospitals if necessary and emphasised the need to evaluate the mortuary systems at existing hospitals, including the utilisation of mobile mortuaries.

She also reviewed the operations of the control room, which will function 24/7 to assist both health workers and the public. The minister directed an assessment of the availability of Rapid Action Medical Units of 108 ambulances from other states to ensure they can reach remote hilly areas.

Additionally, she stressed the importance of evaluating the relief camp operations and ensuring the availability of health worker services, highlighting the critical need for epidemic prevention measures. Senior officials from the Health Department were present at the meeting.

Kerala Minister AK Saseendran confirmed that 54 people have died so far in the landslides that hit the Meppadi area in Wayanad in the early hours of Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and took stock of the situation in Wayanad. The Home Minister assured all possible help from the Centre government.

Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin also had a telephone conversation with Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan regarding the landslide situation in Wayanad.

MK Stalin offered his condolences to the deceased in landslides and assured, on behalf of the Tamil Nadu government, all possible help. CM also ordered a rescue team headed by two IAS cadres to assist the Kerala government, and they are rushing to Kerala immediately.

CM Stalin also ordered to release of Rs 5 crores for relief measures to Kerala Government from the Tamil Nadu government from CM General funds From Tamil Nadu, 20 fighters from the Fire rescue department headed by its Joint Director, 20 fighters from the State Disaster Management Authority headed by Superintendent of Police, and one medical team comprising 10 doctors and nurses are rushing to Kerala today itself.

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.

“Evaluated the ongoing relief and rescue operations at Chooralmala, Wayanad, following the severe landslide, in a visit to the Kerala SDMA office,” Vijayan said.

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, which was hit by landslides on Tuesday morning, following torrential rains.

The Navy team is being dispatched 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. 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.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to the Army chief and directed to mobilize forces for assistance and rescue in the landslide-hit area and that army teams have reached the ground.