Attachments
NAME OF THE DISASTER
Heavy Rainfall and Landslides in Wayanad, Kerala
ABOUT THE DISASTER
Wayanad, a hilly district in the Western Ghats mountain range, is vulnerable to landslides during the monsoon season. A significant landslide occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, 30 July 2024, followed by multiple additional incidents throughout the day, including in the afternoon. The landslide started at Mundakkai, followed by three subsequent landslides that occurred within three hours. The areas that have been most hit include Chooralmala, Attamala, and Mundakkai. The disaster resulted in the collapse of the main bridge linking the affected area to the nearest town, Chooralmala, significantly impeding rescue operations. Moreover, the India Meteorological Department's (IMD) forecast extremely heavy rainfall throughout the day in the area.
CURRENT SCENARIO
• The death toll reached 385 after 28 more bodies were recovered and more than 250 people are yet to be traced.
• Post-mortem examinations have been conducted on 212 bodies and 140 body parts, resulting in the identification of 148 bodies by relatives. Blood samples from the relatives of the unidentified bodies and recovered body parts have been collected to assist in identifying the deceased.
• Authorities have set up 53 relief camps in Wayanad for 6,759 displaced persons including 2,501 men, 2,677 women, 1,581 children, and 20 pregnant women. This includes 2,514 persons who have been directly affected by the landslides and are currently taking shelter across 17 relief camps in Chooralmala.
• Residents of Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala and Lulupura villages have been majorly affected.
• The landslide impacted wards 10, 11, and 12 of Meppadi Grama Panchayat, affecting approximately 1,721 homes:
o 1,424 people in 601 families in Ward 10-Attamala
o 1,247 people in 451 families in Ward 11-Mundakkai
o 2,162 people in 671 families in Ward 12-Chooralmala
• 25 damaged structures, including houses and other buildings, have been identified through GIS mapping, led by Uralungal Technology Solutions
• Intense spells of rainfall are leading to reduced visibility, water logging in roads, uprooting of trees, and damage the standing crops and vegetables.
• Electricity lines were damaged and five transformers have been damaged or have washed away in the heavy rainfall, leading to the disruption of power supply
• There is also the risk of lightning strikes which may further injure people and cattle at open places.
• The destruction has impacted an entire township, including inter-state, migrant workers all of whom used to work as informal labourers in tea estates in Wayanad district:
o 242 migrant labourers from Bengal
o 55 migrant workers including 15 children from Assam's Darrang and Barpeta districts
o 30 migrant workers from Madhya Pradesh
o 44 migrant workers from Jharkhand