[ad_1]
At least 41 people were killed in a landslide in Wayanad district of Kerala on Tuesday, Zee News TV reported. A total of 70 injured were admitted to various hospitals. Several agencies, including the State Disaster Preparedness Force and the Air Force, have joined the rescue operation in the hills near Meppadi.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has contacted the Army Chief and requested to deploy troops to the landslide area in Wayanad, Kerala for assistance and rescue operations. According to ANI, the Army team has reached the accident site.
Over 400 people are feared to be trapped in the debris after massive landslides hit several hilly areas near Meppadi in Wayanad district of Kerala in the early hours of Tuesday.
According to PTI, United Democratic Party MP T Siddique mentioned in a video statement that district officials were working on a plan to airlift people from Mundakei area.
“We don’t have complete information yet about the missing and victims of the landslides. Several areas are inaccessible and NDRF teams are trying to reach these locations,” he added.
Authorities said villages like Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala and Noolpuzha were among the areas affected by the landslides and cut off from the outside world.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his concern over the incident on social media ‘X’, writing: “I am deeply saddened by the landslides in parts of Wayanad. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones and my prayers are with the injured. Rescue operations are underway to assist all those affected. I spoke to Kerala Chief Minister Shri @pinarayivijayan and assured that the Central Government will do everything possible to help resolve the current situation there.” Also read: Wayanad landslide tragedy: PM Modi speaks to Kerala Chief Minister, assures quick action
According to a statement from the Kerala Chief Minister’s Office on “X”, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has directed immediate coordination of rescue efforts in Wayanad following a severe landslide. He said the entire government is involved in the rescue efforts and ministers are responsible for supervising and managing the rescue operations.
The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) announced that the firefighting force and NDRF teams have reached the affected areas and another NDRF team is on its way to Wayanad.
According to a KSDMA Facebook update, two teams of the Kannur Defence Security Force have been directed to Wayanad to support the rescue operations.
According to local residents, many people may be trapped in the affected areas and the continued heavy rainfall has caused serious delays in rescue work.
Meanwhile, the meteorological department has issued a red alert for Wayanad district, predicting heavy rains. An orange alert has also been issued for eight other districts – Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod – where very heavy rainfall is expected.
This is a developing story.
[ad_2]
Source link
