Landslide in Wayanad; 19 bodies recovered, death toll likely to rise

KALPETTA: A major tragedy has happened at Meppadi Mundakkai. The bodies of 19 people have been found so far in the two landslides that occurred. The death toll is likely to rise. The locals said that many houses in the area have gone missing. The Vellarmala School has been completely destroyed. Wayanad has never seen such a big disaster at Meppadi Mundakkai region.

Two helicopters will soon reach the spot to rescue the trapped people. Around 40 families were affected by the landslide. The fire brigade, NDRF teams and the locals are carrying out the rescue operations. The district collector, district police chief, T Siddique MLA have reached the spot and are coordinating the rescue operations. Mundakkai is near Puthumala where a landslide was witnessed in 2019. The locals said the landslide occurred with a big noise.

Health Minister Veena George said that in the wake of the Wayanad landslide, the health department has opened a district level control room early in the morning. 8086010833 and 9656938689 can be contacted for emergency health services. All hospitals including Vaithiri, Kalpatta, Meppadi and Mananthavady are ready. In the night itself, all the health workers had arrived for service. More teams of health workers will be deployed in Wayanad.