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Wayanad’s Heart Shattered, Its Spirit Unbreakable

Bharat Bulletin
landslide tragedy

Wayanad’s Heart Shattered, Its Spirit Unbreakable

In the early hours of Tuesday, July 30, 2024, the serene hills of Meppadi in Kerala’s Wayanad district turned into a scene of devastation as massive landslides, triggered by relentless heavy rains, swept through the area. Almost 100 lives were lost, and dozens more were injured, leaving a community in mourning.

Many victims were tea and cardamom estate workers, asleep in their makeshift tents when the landslides struck. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan reported that 93 bodies had been recovered so far, and 128 injured individuals were receiving treatment in various hospitals. The number of missing persons remains uncertain as the treacherous weather continues to hamper rescue efforts.

Chief Minister Vijayan painted a grim picture of the destruction, stating, “An entire area has been wiped out.” He shared that 34 of the recovered bodies had been identified, with 18 handed over to grieving families. Additionally, 16 bodies were found in the Chaliyar River at Pothukal, along with other recovered body parts. The Chief Minister emphasized that many more could still be trapped beneath the debris, and rescue operations would persist despite the challenges posed by ongoing heavy rains.

In response to the disaster, the Kerala government has established 45 relief camps in Wayanad and 118 across the state, providing shelter to 5,531 displaced people. The fire force, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and police are working tirelessly, alongside divisions of the Army and Navy, to aid in the rescue operations. The Chief Minister detailed the deployment of 321 Fire Force members in Wayanad, with an NDRF team of 60 on-site and an 89-member team from Bengaluru en route.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi, and various political leaders have pledged their support to the rescue efforts, underscoring a unified commitment to addressing the crisis.

Among those affected is Ponnayyan, a lottery seller from Chooramala near Mundakkai village. Sensing the danger from the unrelenting rain, Ponnayyan decided to spend the night at his shop with his wife, Jisha, and their sons, Sreerag and Vikas. “Yesterday, a huge tree fell near the house. This made me leave home, and we decided to stay at our lottery shop for the night,” he recalled. His anxiety proved well-founded when he was awakened around 1 am by the sound of gushing water.

“When I tried to lift the shutter, muddy water flooded inside. I quickly closed it again, climbed onto the roof, and removed some tiles to look outside. The river had overflowed, sweeping away everything in its path,” Ponnayyan recounted, his voice trembling with emotion. “There was no power, and I cried out for help, but nobody was around.”

Ponnayyan’s family escaped to higher ground during a brief lull before the second, more devastating landslide struck at 4 am. “It buried most of the village. Mud and debris swept through houses, including huge boulders and tree trunks. Many couldn’t escape,” he said. “My neighbor Sudarsan is still missing. Rescue workers saved his son, but they couldn’t find him.”

Another resident, Dilraj, also shared his harrowing experience. While he escaped the initial onslaught, some of his relatives weren’t as fortunate. “A few of my relatives moved to another house after the first landslide. They lost their lives in the second one, which was even more devastating,” he said, his voice filled with sorrow.

As the community grapples with the immense loss, the resilience and solidarity of the people of Wayanad shine through. The path to recovery will be long and arduous, but with continued support and collective effort, they will rebuild and honor the memories of those lost.

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