The Kerala government has declared that the state will observe two days of mourning on July 30 and 31 after 116 people died in multiple landslides triggered by heavy monsoon rains in the hill district of Wayanad on Tuesday. Several other people are feared trapped under mud and debris as rescue efforts continue.
“The state government has declared a two-day mourning period starting today, and all public functions and celebrations have been postponed,” the Kerala Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said in a post on X.
All the programmes of the state government have been deferred and the flag will be raised at half mast on these days.
‘Red alert’ for Wayanad
On Tuesday morning, massive landslides struck the hilly areas near Meppadi in Wayanad district. However, there is no respite anytime soon for Kerala which will witness more heavy showers this week.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a ‘red’ alert for Wayanad, predicting extreme rainfall on Tuesday.
The ‘red’ alert has also been issued for neighbouring districts of Malappuram, Kozhikode and Kannur which are also expected to receive heavy rains.
The weather office has also issued an ‘orange’ alert in Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, and Palakkad districts for Tuesday, and in Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Kannur districts for Wednesday.
Wayanad floods: Rescue operations at war footing
Inclement weather has been hindering rescue efforts which are being carried out in full pace by the Indian Army and the NDRF with the help of local officials.
The Indian Army has been roped in as a temporary bridge that linked the affected area to a nearest town was also destroyed. As many as 200 soldiers of the Army from the Defence Security Corps and a medical team have been deployed to assist with the rescue operations.
The Army has mobilised four columns, including two columns ex 122 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army) and two ex the DSC Centre, Kannur.
Also, two helicopters from the Indian Air Force (IAF) station in Sulur have been dispatched to aid in the efforts, Kerala CMO said in a statement.
PM Modi assures Kerala CM of all possible help
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed anguish over the loss of lives in Wayanad landslides and assured Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of all possible help from the Centre to deal with the crisis.
The Prime Minister has also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased. The injured would be given Rs 50,000.
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