Wayanad of Kerala is facing a terrible tragedy these days. So far 289 people have died in the landslide, while many people are still missing. US President Joe Biden has expressed deep condolences regarding this disaster. The US President said in a statement that Jill and I express our deepest condolences to all those affected by the devastating landslides in Kerala, India.
He said that our prayers are with the victims of this tragic incident and we condole with the families who have lost their loved ones. We appreciate the bravery of the Indian Services members and first responders engaged in rescue operations. We will continue to express our condolences to the people of India in this difficult time.
Let us tell you that due to landslide, four villages have been completely destroyed. Amidst heavy rains, rescue operations are facing difficulties due to mud, rocks and large pieces of trees. Rescue operations are being attempted today to rescue people trapped in Attamala, Mundakai and Churalmala. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had called an all party meeting on Thursday on this havoc of nature wreaked havoc on Kerala. Vijayan said in the meeting, the main priority at present is to rescue the stranded people.
The Indian Army is carrying out rescue operations in collaboration with the Indian Navy (IN) and the Indian Coast Guard (ICG). There is also a dog squad with every team. Five JCBs have been sent to the western shore to remove debris and facilitate the rescue operation. According to the agency, a command and control center has been set up in Kozhikode by the Army for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) efforts. The Health Minister said, “Around 1,500 army personnel have been deployed for the rescue operation. We have also deployed forensic surgeons.”
Indian Army soldiers completed the construction of a bailey bridge over a river near the landslide site in record time. To test the strength of the bridge, the army first moved its vehicles to the other side of the river. After the completion of the work, the army personnel involved in the construction raised slogans of ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’. With the construction of the bridge, heavy vehicles can now be taken to the landslide site.
Congress leader and former Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi reached Kerala on Thursday and met the families of the victims. Both of them visited various relief camps set up in landslide affected areas of Wayanad district and met the affected families. During this, Rahul said that today he is feeling the same as he felt on the death of his father Rajiv Gandhi. He said that at this moment my interest is not in politics but in the people of Wayanad.
Let us tell you that heavy rains became a disaster in Wayanad on the intervening night of Monday-Tuesday. Landslides occurred three times between 1 am and 5 am and caused devastation in four beautiful villages, Churalamala, Attamala, Noolpuzha and Mundakkai, situated in the catchment of the Cheliyar river below the mountain.