Wayanad’s Landslide Trouble Returns: Fresh Incident's Alert Delayed By 48 Hours

According to Wayanad District Collector DR Meghasree, the landslide occurred in the remote Vellarimala Malavaram stretch of Vythiri taluk, and no residential zones were impacted.

The remote location in Vythiri taluk, part of the Nilambur Kovilakam Wasted Forest, reportedly made detection difficult.

Source : PTI

A fresh landslide has struck Karimattam forest area near Chooralmala in Wayanad—nearly a year after the region witnessed a major landslide in 2024. Though the latest event occurred on May 28 amid intense rainfall, district authorities were alerted only two days later, on May 30. In July 2024, Kerala reported a series of landslides in Wayanad district that resulted in the death of 254 persons and left over 100 missing. 

Fresh Wayanad Landslide 

According to Wayanad District Collector DR Meghasree, the landslide occurred in the remote Vellarimala Malavaram stretch of Vythiri taluk, and no residential zones were impacted. The information reached the District Emergency Operations Centre via the local Village Officer late in the afternoon on May 30, as per local media reports. The site lies within the Nilambur Kovilakam Wasted Forest, making access and early detection more challenging.

Following the alert, a joint team consisting of geologists and forest officials was mobilized to inspect the location. The team, part of the District Disaster Management Authority’s Core Committee, began their assessment on May 31, accompanied by personnel from the Mundake Forest Station. They were able to reach within 2.5 kilometers of the landslide site and confirmed that the nearby settlements were safe.

Officials noted that the affected hillside forms the source of a tributary feeding the Chaliyar River through Aranappuzha, raising concerns about potential downstream impacts.

DX-Band Doppler Weather Radar To Be Installed In Wayanad

In a significant move aimed at strengthening the region’s disaster response capabilities, the Kerala government has announced the installation of an advanced X-Band Doppler Weather Radar in Wayanad. The system will be housed at the Pazhassi Raja College campus in Pulppalli.

A tripartite agreement is set to be signed in Thiruvananthapuram this Wednesday between the Kerala government, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), and the college’s management, as per a report on Manorama. The land for the radar—30 square meters in size—has been provided free of cost by the Sulthan Bathery Diocese of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church for a 30-year term.

In return, the IMD and the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) will assist the college in launching a new professional course in disaster management. The IMD will also be responsible for installing, operating, and maintaining the radar unit.