Early Tuesday morning, devastating landslides struck the areas of Mundakkai and Chooralmala in Wayanad, Kerala. As of now, officials have confirmed that 167 people have lost their lives due to these tragic events. The Department of Information and Public Relations (PRD) Control Room in Wayanad reports that out of the total victims, 96 have been identified. This includes 77 men, 67 women, and 22 children.
Post-mortem examinations have been completed on 166 bodies and 49 body parts. So far, 75 bodies have been returned to their families for burial.
The ongoing rescue efforts have seen 219 individuals taken to hospitals for treatment. Of these, 78 are still receiving care, while 142 have been moved to relief camps. In Wayanad, 73 people remain hospitalized, with five others receiving treatment in Malappuram.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has assured that rescue operations are in full swing. He stated that 1,592 people have been rescued so far through extensive efforts. “This is an unprecedented and painful disaster,” Vijayan said. He emphasized that rescue operations in Wayanad are ongoing and that the state is fully committed to addressing the crisis.
There has been some controversy regarding the handling of weather warnings. Union Home Minister Amit Shah suggested that the state had not adequately responded to early warnings about the weather.
In response, Chief Minister Vijayan clarified that the state took all weather alerts seriously. He pointed out that an orange alert was in effect for the area affected by the landslides, and heavy rainfall far exceeded warning levels.
Vijayan explained that a red alert was only issued at 6 am on the day of the disaster after the landslides had already occurred. He also noted that the Central Water Commission had not issued any flood warnings for the Punnappra or Chaliyar Rivers between July 23 and 29. He criticized Shah’s statements in Parliament as being factually incorrect.
Union Home Minister Shah, while addressing the Rajya Sabha, acknowledged that early warnings were issued and NDRF teams were dispatched to Kerala. He expressed solidarity with the people of Kerala, stating that regardless of party politics, the Narendra Modi government would support the state during this difficult time.
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