"108 Bodies Recovered": Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan On Wayanad Landslides

Addressing a press conference amid the devastating landslides in Wayanad, Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan today said that the instructions to leave the place before the catastrophe reduced the casualties in the region. While expressing his grief over the deceased, the chief minister urged people not to ignore the warnings of the officials and comply with all the instructions. He asked the public not to travel to the affected area. The chief minster noted that about 93 bodies of the dead have been recovered so far.

The area received 200 mm of rain in the first 24 hours and 372 mm in the next 24 hours, totalling 572 mm of rain over 48 hours. Rainfall and other natural disasters can be unpredictable, especially in the context of climate change. Unexpected heavy rains, cloudbursts, and landslides are part of this unpredictability,” the chief minister said.

Talking about the calamity, the chief minister said that many houses and buildings, including a school, have been washed away by the huge landslide. The chief minister expressed his satisfaction with the rescue efforts, pointing out that the efforts are in full swing and many have been successfully saved.

“Various forces, including the Fire Force, NDRF, and Police, are working together in relief efforts. Military units have also been urgently mobilized. Various units of the Army and Navy are coming to the rescue operation. 329 members of the Fire Force have been deputed to Wayanad from various districts. This includes 35 trained members of the Water Rescue Academy and 86 Civil Defence and Apta Mitra members,” he said.

A 60-member team from the NDRF has already reached Wayanad and is engaged in rescue operations. Additionally, a team from Bangalore has left for Wayanad. A 64-member team from the DSC has arrived in Wayanad, with another DSC team ready in Kannur. Two Air Force helicopters, which departed from Sulur for Wayanad, are currently stationed in Kozhikode due to adverse weather conditions,” the chief minister pointed out, adding that the requests have also been made for the river-crossing team of the Navy, one team from the ET F Army, and one team from the Indian Coast Guard.

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Several teams from the Navy, fire and rescue, and other disaster response teams have reached the region, he said. To find dead bodies inside the soil, trained dogs have been deployed. Several transformers have been washed away, and the electricity of around 350 houses’ has been destroyed, he said.

The chief minister also said that the prime minister called his and assured all the support in the rescue operation. Other leaders, including the opposition leader and former Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi, have assured support in fighting the catastrophe, the chief minister added.

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A press note issued by the chief minister said that among the victims were children who lost their lives while they were asleep during the wee hours, highlighting the harrowing impact of this disaster, adding that many residents fled in terror.

“This is one of the worst natural calamities Kerala has ever witnessed,” he said, adding that the roads have been washed away, and the Vellarmala GVH School was completely buried. “The damage to homes and livelihoods is immense. Efforts to locate missing persons continue with all available resources,” Mr Vijayan said.

“Upon receiving news of the tragedy, we immediately coordinated rescue operations. Five ministers have been dispatched to Wayanad to oversee the efforts. Under their direct supervision and with the support of the army, the rescue operations are in full swing. Our priority is to save as many lives as possible, provide medical care to the injured, and relocate others to safer areas. In Wayanad, 45 relief camps have been established, accommodating 3,069 people. Across the entire state, a total of 118 camps are providing shelter to 5,531 individuals,” the press noted said.

The police are providing all possible assistance to get the injured to the hospital as quickly as possible. Post-mortem examinations and inquests are being conducted, and steps are being taken to handover the bodies to their relatives. Apart from the forensic team in Wayanad, a special team of forensic doctors from Kozhikode has also been appointed to expedite the post-mortem process. DNA tests are being conducted to identify unidentifiable corpses, it said.

On the essential services including food, the press noted said that the government is ensuring the delivery of food and essential items to relief camps and affected areas. The public Distribution Department and Supplyco are making necessary interventions to provide food grains and essentials in ration shops and Supplyco stores. The Water Resources Department has dispatched vehicles carrying 20,000 litres of drinking water to the disaster area.

“Temporary hospitals are being set up, and additional health workers have been appointed. Teams from Kozhikode, Kannur, and Thrissur Medical Colleges have been sent to Wayanad, along with additional doctors and nurses in critical departments. Private hospitals are also contributing medical teams. Mobile mortuary services are being utilised to handle the increased need,” it said adding that the health workers on leave have been instructed to return to work, and additional medicines and equipment are being supplied.

The chief minister also highlighted that Kaniv has provided extra ambulances, and rapid-action medical units capable of operating in hilly areas have been dispatched.