New Delhi: At least 70 people have died and hundreds are feared trapped after three landslides hit Kerala’s Wayanad district in four hours amid heavy rain. Multiple agencies, including NDRF, have joined the rescue ops in the hilly areas near Meppadi. 250 members of the Fire and Rescue, Civil Defence, NDRF, and Local Emergency Response Teams are involved in the rescue operation. An additional team of NDRF has been directed to reach the spot immediately, the officials said.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan assured all possible rescue operations to be coordinated in the landslides in Wayanad. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed anguish over the loss of lives in landslides and assured Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of all possible help from the Centre to deal with the crisis.Mepadi Mundakai is the biggest tragedy that has ever happened in Wayanad. There are many more to be discovered. Churalmala, Mundakai and Attamala region were isolated in the landslide. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the extent of the disaster is yet to be told.
Army’s engineering group will also reach Wayanad immediately for rescue and related operations in the landslide-hit area of Wayanad. Army’s Madras Engineering Group will arrive from Bangalore. In the event of a landslide, the engineering department of the army will implement the alternative system.The landslide occurred at Mundakai around two in the morning. Efforts are being made to bring out all the stranded people safely. During the rescue operation in the morning, there was a large mountain flood and landslide. The rescue workers escaped. Many vehicles were swept away.
