The Kerala government has declared two days of official mourning in the state following a devastating landslide in Wayanad. The landslide resulted in the deaths of 84 people, with injuries reported to 116.
The Kerala Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, announced the statewide mourning period, while the Revenue Minister’s office confirmed the increasing death toll.
Rescue efforts are underway, with the Indian Army reaching the landslide site at Chooralmala. Soldiers are assisting with rescue operations, utilizing ropes to cross the swollen river.
Union Minister of State George Kurian is leading the relief and rescue operations on the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, coordinating efforts with the NDRF, paramilitary forces, and Kerala government officials.
Kerala Forest Minister Saseendran is assessing the damage and coordinating response measures, while State Minister Ramachandran Kadannappalli is expected to join the efforts on the ground.
A delegation of state ministers, including those from the Revenue, Public Works, and Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Departments, are traveling to the site by air.
The Indian Army has dispatched 200 personnel from Kannur and 122 from Kozhikode, with the latter already assisting in relief efforts. The Indian Navy has deployed a team of 30 specialist swimmers, and two helicopters from Sulur Air Force Station have also been deployed.
NDRF teams are also involved in rescue operations, reporting difficulties in reaching interior parts of the landslide-affected area. The India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for heavy rainfall in eight districts, including Wayanad, and an orange alert for four other districts.
