At least 43 people have been killed while over a hundred people are feared trapped after major landslides struck hilly areas near Meppadi in Kerala's Wayanad district in the early hours of Tuesday. Fireforce and teams of the National Disaster Response Force have been deployed to the affected area, said the Kerala Disaster Management Authority.
Of the total deceased, 35 dead bodies are in hospitals in Meppadi while eight dead bodies in Nilambur and Mancheri hospitals. 11 dead bodies floated through Chaliyar in Nilambur pothukal while four dead bodies were found at Chaliyar in Malappuram.
Among the deceased is a one-year-old child of a Nepali family living in Thondernad village, as per the Wayanad district authorities, reported PTI. Two foreigners trapped in a resort were rescued by volunteers, as per the OnManorama report.
Heavy rains triggered the first landslide at around 1 am at Mundakkai town on Tuesday while another struck Chooral Mala School at around 4 am, as per the report. Around 400 families have been feared trap as a bridge collapsed in Chooral Mala town hampering the rescue operations.
Shops, houses, and bridges have been washed away and the landslide has hampered vehicular movement as well and NDRF teams are exploring options to airlift the victims, the OnManorama report added.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that all government agencies have joined rescue operations and Health Department - National Health Mission has opened a control room. Helpline numbers, 9656938689 and 8086010833, have also been issued for emergency assistance.
The Chief Minister's Office also said that two Air Force helicopters Mi-17 and an ALH will depart from Sulur at 7.30 am and rescue operations will be coordinated.
Briefing on the preparedness of the medical teams, Kerala Health Minister Veena George said that the Health department has opened district level control rooms and released the helpline numbers. All hospitals including Vaithiri, Kalpatta, Meppadi and Mananthavadi hospitals are ready and health workers arrived for the service during the night. She said that more teams of health workers will be deployed in Wayanad.