Massive landslides kill 93 in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: At least 93 people were killed in a massive landslide at Churalpara in Kerala’s Wayanad on Tuesday, said officials here.

The landslides were reported to have occurred at around 2 am and the area was cut off. Many have been injured and are missing in the landslides that caused huge destruction of public and private property.

Kerala Chief Secretary V Venu told local media, “Around 2 a.m., landslides took place at least two to three times. At this point, few affected areas are cut off. The weather is also adverse for NDRF teams to go to some of these affected areas. Everyone is on alert. We will carry out the rescue in a coordinated manner. We are still ascertaining about how many people are trapped. All options, including airlifting people, are being looked into to ensure rescue work is carried out.”

Venu, in a statement said that taking into account the grave tragedy, the State will observe two days’ official mourning on Tuesday and Wednesday.

On both these days the National Flag will fly at half mast and all official engagements of the Kerala government have been postponed. The local people and a team of professional rescue operators were engaged in locating people in the area which has been ripped into two, with around 400 families being isolated.

Meanwhile, Attamala, which has a good number of homestays, has been badly affected and the rescue operations have begun and there are reports of tourists being trapped.

State Forest Minister AK Saseendran, who rushed to the spot said it was a bit early to assess the damages.

“We have started the rescue operations and are waiting for helicopters to arrive. A new ropeway is going to be erected soon and the Army will be building a temporary bridge also to rescue people who are trapped in the area after a bridge was swept away,” said Saseendran.

The worst affected areas are Churalpara, Velarimala, Mundakayil and Pothukalu and the locals from these areas who managed to escape are shattered as hundreds of homes have been totally buried or destroyed.

Rescue operations under the aegis of the NDRF, Navy, Army, police and the fire department along with the local people, are continuing.

A special ropeway has now been put up at Churalmala and the rescue teams have managed to reach the marooned area. They hope to rescue the people trapped in the area shortly. Meanwhile, rescue teams are now arriving with more men and material to erect a Bailey Bridge at Churalmala where a bridge was swept away during the landslide.