Wayanad Landslides: Death Toll Reaches 158, Many Still Missing, Rescue Operations Ongoing

Heavy rains continue to batter Kerala’s Wayanad district, with the death toll reaching 158 and at least 191 people still missing. Rescue operations are ongoing in the affected areas, with 1200 rescue personnel from the Indian Army, DSC Centre, Territorial Army, NDRF, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force deployed and actively engaged in rescue efforts. The Kerala government reported that over 200 people have been admitted to hospitals, and 5,592 individuals have been rescued from landslide-affected regions.

The landslides occurred on Tuesday morning while people were asleep, with the first landslide striking around 2 am and the second around 4:15 am. Many houses were damaged, trees uprooted, and rivers and brooks overflowed. Water and debris inundated residential areas, with vehicles floating in the floodwaters and many people swept away.

The disaster’s severity is evident as rescue workers continue to find mutilated remains of victims in rivers and mud. The once scenic hilly area now displays widespread destruction. Rescue teams, including the Indian Army, are working tirelessly to evacuate those stranded.

Calls for help from individuals trapped under collapsed houses and rubble highlight the dire situation. Photos and videos of people pleading for help have gone viral on social media. Flooding and washed-away bridges have left disaster-affected people either stuck in their homes or without means of travel.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have spoken to the Kerala Chief Minister, assuring all possible assistance from the central government. The Wayanad tragedy was also discussed in Parliament on Wednesday, with Home Minister Amit Shah expressing concern and noting that nine NDRF teams had already been dispatched to Kerala. Shah mentioned that the Kerala government had been warned a week prior, but evacuation efforts were delayed.