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Wayanad Landslides: Shocking visuals shot by a drone have captured the widespread devastation in the aftermath of the deadly landslides which struck Kerala’s Wayanad district on Tuesday morning, leaving at least 80 people dead and over a hundred others injured.
The drone visuals show houses, trees, and vehicles swept away by flash floods triggered by a series of landslides which occurred in the hilly areas of Meppadi in Wayanad due to heavy rains.
Wayanad Landslide | Drone visuals capture the extensive damage caused by landslides in Wayanad. As per the latest updates, the death toll has risen to 63 and 116 injuries have been reported so far. #ViralVideo #Wayanad #WayanadLandslide #Landslides pic.twitter.com/EIPUbi7b9z
— Voice of Assam (@VoiceOfAxom) July 30, 2024
Meanwhile, the death toll in the calamity has surged to 80 as more bodies were recovered even as rescue operations continued on Tuesday evening.
In a statement, Kerala Chief Secretary V Venu said 80 bodies have been recovered so far, while around 116 people are injured and undergoing treatment at various hospitals in the district, adding that rescue operations in the landslide-hit areas are ongoing as many people are still feared trapped.
The Indian Navy has been called in to aid in the rescue effort at the request of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
Officials said an Indian Navy team from the Ezhimala Naval Base in Kannur is being deployed to assist in the rescue operations at Chooralmala.
Earlier, CM Vijayan sought the help of the Navy’s River Crossing team, while 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, the Chief Minister’s Office said in a release.
Around 200 Indian Army personnel from DSC Centre Kannur and 122 TA Battalion from Kozhikode were dispatched to the site and are assisting in relief operations.
A team of 30 specialist swimmers from the Indian Navy has been deployed. Two helicopters from Air Force station Sulur have also been despatched, Defence officials said.
“Our teams are located at various locations in Wayanad. Even in Kozhikode, a landslide was suspected, NDRF team is deployed there. Already 3 teams of NDRF are in Wayanad. We are doing our best to carry out rescue efforts. We are facing difficulty in reaching interior parts in the landslide-affected area,” said S Shankar Pandian, Deputy Commandant, NDRF.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted more heavy rainfall in parts of the state and issued a for eight districts of Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasargod.
An orange alert has been issued for Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam and Ernakulam districts for today.
A series of landslides caused by torrential rains struck hilly areas in Kerala’s Wayanad district on Tuesday morning, triggering flash floods which left behind a wave of death and destruction.
(With inputs from agencies)
