2024 Wayanad landslides
 | This article is about a current disaster where information can change quickly or be unreliable. The latest page updates may not reflect the most up-to-date information. |
   | |
| Date | 30 July 2024 |
|---|---|
| Time | 01:00–04:00 (IST) |
| Location | Wayanad district, Kerala, India |
| Coordinates | 11°46′54.4″N 76°13′57.6″E / 11.781778°N 76.232667°E |
| Type | Landslide |
| Cause | Torrential rain |
| Outcome | Loss of human life and property |
| Deaths | 276+[1] |
| Non-fatal injuries | 200+ |
| Missing | 240+ |
On 30 July 2024, multiple landslides occurred in Wayanad district, Kerala, India, with more than 277 deaths reported and over 200 injuries. These are the deadliest landslides in Kerala's history.[2] The landslides are among several extreme weather events that have occurred in India in recent years.[3]
Background
Wayanad, a hilly district in the Western Ghats mountain range, is prone to landslides during the monsoon season.[4][5] Due to heavy rainfall in the area, the residents in the Punchrimattom, Attamala and Mundakkai areas were shifted by the local body authorities to relief camps on 29 June. Despite an alert issued by the district administration, many residents of Chooramala area stayed in their houses as it was not marked as a landslide-prone area.[6] An estimated 572 mm (22.5 inches) of rainfall was recorded in the two days preceding the disaster.[7]
Incident
The first landslide struck the village of Mundakkai at around 01:00 IST, followed by a second landslide in nearby Chooralmala to the north at around 04:00 IST. Approximately 400 families were stranded in Mundakkai and Attamala following the collapse of the only bridge connecting the settlements and Chooramala.[8] Overall, four villages, namely Mundakkai, Attamala, Chooralmala and Kunhome, were affected by the landslides.[5]
The landslides killed 276 and injured over 200, making them the deadliest landslides in Kerala's history;[8][9][10] most victims were workers on tea and cardamom estates located in the region and were likely asleep in their makeshift tents when the landslides struck.[5] Another 240 people were left unaccounted for.[11][8][10] In Chooralmala alone, up to 90% of the village's 1,000 residents perished.[12] At least 83 bodies were found in the Chaliyar river.[8][5][13]
Aftermath
State and national disaster relief teams were dispatched to conduct rescue operations, but were hindered by strong river currents and heavy rains. The Indian Army sent more than 200 personnel to the area to assist with search and rescue operations. Local hospitals treated at over 200 injured people and more than 3,000 people were rescued and sent to disaster relief camps.[5][8][10] Schools and colleges were closed in 10 of 14 districts.[14][5]
Response
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced payments of ₹2 lakhs to relatives of the dead and ₹50,000 to each injured.[15] Rahul Gandhi, leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha and former Member of Parliament for Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, spoke with Chief Minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan and urged United Democratic Front workers to provide help.[16] Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin spoke with Vijayan regarding the landslides. The government of Tamil Nadu offered ₹5 crore for relief operations and sent medical and rescue teams.[17]
The Union Home Minister of India Amit Shah informed the Parliament of India that four early warnings were issued to the Government of Kerala between 23 July and 26 July indicating possible rainfall of more than 20 cm (7.9 in) in and around the area.[18][19] The Chief Minister of Kerala responded by claiming that the red alert was issued for Wayanad only after the disaster and only a forecast of low probability for landslides was given for Wayanad on 30 July and 31 July by the central agencies.[20][21]
Industrialists Gautam Adani, M. A. Yusuff Ali, Ravi Pillai and T. S. Kalyanaraman announced aid of 5 crore rupees.[22]
See also
References
- ^ "Kerala Wayanad Landslides Live Updates: Toll rises to 276; over 200 still missing, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi to visit today". Times of India. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
- ^ "Wayanad landslides: Death toll likely to go up; search ops to resume Thursday..." onmanorama. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
- ^ "Kerala landslide: a look at the extreme weather events in India recently". The Indian Express.
- ^ "Not just nature's fury, man's greed too behind Wayanad tragedy". India Today. July 31, 2024. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f "India landslides kill 120 and trap dozens". BBC. Archived from the original on July 31, 2024. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
- ^ Manoj, E. M. "Wayanad landslide Hope and desperation as families wait for kith and kin". The Hindu. Archived from the original on July 30, 2024. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
- ^ "Kerala landslides death toll hits 151, many missing as rain hampers rescue". Al Jazeera. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "Wayanad landslides: 133 dead, 481 saved, at least 98 missing". Onmanorama. Archived from the original on July 30, 2024. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
Death toll: 276.
- ^ Vengattil, Munsif; Thomas, Chris; Devasia, Jose; Vengattil, Munsif; Thomas, Chris (July 31, 2024). "Kerala's Wayanad landslide: Search for survivors, death toll 166". Reuters. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
They said at least 166 people died and 195 were injured, while the local Asianet news TV channel put the death toll at 179.
- ^ a b c "Wayanad landslides: 240 still missing as rescue op enters third day, death tolll rises to 276". Onmanorama. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
Extremely heavy rain triggered the landslides in the hilly areas of Wayanad early on Tuesday, leaving at least 276 people dead and more than 200 injured.
- ^ "Landslides leave over 150 dead in India due to torrential rain". Euronews. July 31, 2024. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
- ^ "'We have lost 90% of villagers': Grief takes over remote Kerala town". Hindustan Times. July 31, 2024. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
- ^ "Wayanad landslides LIVE updates: At least 123 killed, several feared missing; Rahul Gandhi to visit relief camps on July 31". The Hindu. July 30, 2024. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on July 31, 2024. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
- ^ "Wayanad landslide news: Death toll rises to 80; Navy deployed to aid in rescue operations". Mint (newspaper). July 30, 2024. Archived from the original on July 30, 2024. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
- ^ "93 Killed In Wayanad Landslides, Kerala Braces For More Rain". NDTV. Archived from the original on July 30, 2024. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
- ^ "Wayanad landslides: Rahul Gandhi speaks with Kerala CM; urges UDF workers to provide all help". The Telegraph (India). Press Trust of India. July 30, 2024. Archived from the original on July 30, 2024. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
- ^ "Kerala landslides | Tamil Nadu chips in; to send relief team, assistance of Rs 5 crore". Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on July 30, 2024. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
- ^ "Debate on both the houses of Parliament on the situation arising out of landslides in Wayanad, Kerala". PIB. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
- ^ "Wayanad: Amit Shah says Centre gave advance warning, Pinarayi Vijayan cites IMD orange alert". The Telegraph (India). Press Trust of India. July 31, 2024. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
- ^ "Kerala CM challenges Amit Shah's claims of 'early warning' on Wayanad landslides: 'Red alert was issued only after...'". Mint.
- ^ "Kerala CM counters Amit Shah's 'early warnings' claim on Wayanad landslides: 'Red alert issued only after...'". The Hindustan Times.
- ^ "ഉരുൾപൊട്ടൽ ദുരന്തം: വയനാടിന് സഹായം പ്രഖ്യാപിച്ച് ഗൗതം അദാനിയും എംഎ യൂസഫ് അലിയും; സിഎംഡിആർഎഫിൽ 5 കോടി വീതം നൽകി". Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd (in Malayalam). Retrieved August 1, 2024.