Kerala Wayanad Landslides: Death Toll Rises to 167, Relief Efforts Intensify

Kerala Wayanad landslides have seen the death toll rise to 167 as of July 31, 2024. The district administration has identified 96 bodies, completed the post-mortem of 166, and handed over 75 bodies to relatives. Out of the 219 people admitted to hospitals, 78 are still undergoing treatment.

The Tamil Nadu Congress announced a relief fund of ₹1 crore for Wayanad, with MPs and MLAs planning to donate their one-month salary. The Dalai Lama expressed sadness over the devastation and pledged a donation towards relief efforts. The Wayanad district administration confirmed 167 deaths and retrieval of 61 body parts.

In a letter to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the Dalai Lama conveyed condolences and pledged a donation towards relief efforts. In the Lok Sabha, BJP MP Tejaswi Surya accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of not raising the issue of landslides in his constituency, leading to protests from Congress members. Congress MP KC Venugopal countered that Gandhi had raised the issue several times, accusing Surya of making false claims.

BJP MP Tejaswi Surya called the Wayanad landslides a man-made disaster, citing ecological experts and past recommendations to remove illegal settlements. China expressed condolences to the victims’ families and wished the injured a speedy recovery. Gautam Adani announced a ₹5 crore contribution to the Kerala Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund.

The Centre assured all possible assistance to Kerala, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi monitoring the situation. Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi urged the Centre to extend all possible help to Wayanad. Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi planned to visit Wayanad on August 1 to meet affected families and visit relief camps.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan refuted Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s claim that the state was warned in advance about the calamity. He stated that an orange alert was issued before the landslides, but the rainfall was much higher than predicted. The Chief Minister emphasized that this was not the time for blame games.

Rahul Gandhi urged the government to extend all possible help to the landslide victims in Wayanad and address the ecological issues in the area. Over 200 people were admitted to hospitals, and 8,017 people were relocated to 82 relief camps. Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan appealed for nationwide support for the victims.

In the Lok Sabha, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya blamed encroachment due to vote bank politics for the Wayanad landslides, causing a brief adjournment. West Bengal Governor Ananda Bose visited the survivors, and rescuers used ropes and pulleys to shift bodies at Chooralmala. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced ₹5 lakh compensation for Kannadigas who died in the landslides.

Government school students and teachers volunteered tirelessly in relief camps, providing physical and emotional support to survivors. MoS Home Affairs Nityanand Rai stated that over a thousand people had been rescued, with multiple teams from the armed forces, NDRF, and SDRF conducting rescue operations.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah informed the Rajya Sabha that an early warning alert was given, but emphasized solidarity with Kerala over blame. Specialised dogs were deployed to help locate humans under the debris. Medical points, including oxygen ambulances, were set up to provide emergency medical attention.

Trained professionals from the Indian Association of Clinical Psychologists offered psychological support to survivors. The University of Calicut postponed all exams scheduled till August 2 due to the rains. Mobilisation of humanitarian aid was in full swing, with collection centres receiving food, medicines, clothes, and sanitation accessories.

500 to 600 personnel from the Army, NDRF, Police, and volunteers continued rescue operations, with plans to rebuild a bridge for easier access to the site. More families in Kozhikode district were being relocated from vulnerable spots due to the landslides. Congress parliamentary party members observed a moment of silence for the victims.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was closely monitoring the landslide situation in Wayanad.

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