In one of the worst natural disasters in Kerala, at least 123 persons were killed and 128 injured in massive landslides triggered by torrential rains in Wayanad on Tuesday. With hundreds trapped under the debris, sparking fears of mounting fatalities, rescue agencies were racing against time to pull out any survivors.
Indian Army has been carrying out rescue operations in the landslide hit areas of Wayanad in conjunction with NDRF and other agencies. Around 150 people have been rescued from Mudakkayi village, provided medical aid and evacuated to safer places. Apart from the four columns with a total strength of approximately 225 personnel, already deployed for the operation, two more columns having a strength of approximately 140 personnel are on standby in Thiruvananthapuram to be airlifted on a short notice, in case the need arises.
Kerala government announced that two days, July 30 and 31, will be observed as state mourning. All state government programmes have been deferred.
The Indian Army was roped in as a temporary bridge that linked the affected area to a nearest town was also destroyed. The Army has mobilised four columns, including two columns of 122 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army) and two ex the DSC Centre, Kannur.
Two helicopters of the Indian Air Force have also been mobilised, said a statement from Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan's office. A rescue official said rescue efforts remain challenging as there was no internet connectivity in the area.
State forest minister AK Saseendran said that the situation is serious, and the government has pressed all agencies to assist rescue operations. A special control room has been set up by the district administration at the police headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Kerala chief minister Vijayan and assured all possible help from the Centre. "The Prime Minister has announced ex-gratia of ₹200,000 from Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of each deceased in the landslides," PM's office said in a post on X. The injured would be given ₹50,000.
11 killed in Pune dist
At least four people died in Pune as record-breaking rain lashed central Maharashtra last week, causing widespread flooding and landslides. In Pune’s Deccan Gymkhana area, three men were electrocuted while trying to move vessels and furniture from their eatery in the Mutha riverbed. A 30-year-old man died and another was injured in a landslide along Pune-Kolad road in Tamhini Ghat section, about 60km from Pune city.
Authorities reported four people missing. Pune fire brigade is conducting a search for two men feared swept away by the surging waters released from Khadakwasla dam into Mutha river, which merges with the Mula in the city. In Lavasa, at least two people are suspected to be trapped under debris from a landslide.
Army and NDRF units evacuated at least 110 people from their homes in Ekta Nagari, near the Mutha off Sinhagad Road.
8 killed in Gujarat
At least eight people were killed in rain-related incidents, and over 800 were shifted as swollen rivers and overflowing dams cut off several villages and inundated low-lying areas in several parts of Gujarat. Heavy rains pounded south Gujarat districts like Vadodara, Surat, Bharuch, and Anand since the morning, prompting authorities to declare a holiday for schools and colleges in some places for the day.
State commissioner of relief, Alok Kumar Pandey, told media persons in Gandhinagar, “Eight persons have died due to heavy rains during the last 24 hours. We have also shifted 826 persons to safer places during that period. In view of the present situation, we have deployed 20 teams of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and 11 teams of NDRF in affected districts.”
3 Gujarat districts get highest excess rain in July
Gujarat is not conventionally associated with chart-topping rainfall but record breaking rain in coastal Saurashtra has put state districts on the national map. In fact, the top three districts among 788 in India with more than 700% excess rain are from Gujarat.
These include Devbhoomi Dwarka district which recorded 1422% excess rainfall between July 17 and 24 , followed by Porbandar (1101%) and Junagadh (712%). Across India, six districts recorded more than 500% departure from weekly normal rainfall out of which four were from Gujarat and two from Andhra Pradesh. Ashok Kumar Das, head of IMD Gujarat, said that this year has seen unusually heavy rainfall for the Saurashtra and Kutch region with all-time high rainfall for Devbhoomi Dwakra.
