Kerala Governor Arrives in Kozhikode to Assess Landslide Devastation

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan lands in Kozhikode to survey landslide impacts. Kerala Chief Minister reports 93 fatalities and 128 injuries. Relief efforts underway with 3,069 people in camps. NDRF involved in rescues as heavy rains cause widespread damage.

Hours after a massive landslide struck the regions of Wayanad and Kozhikode in Kerala, Governor Arif Mohammed Khan made his way to Kozhikode aboard an Indian Air Force aircraft. He is scheduled to visit the most severely affected areas in Wayanad on Wednesday morning.

The Governor's itinerary includes assessing the devastated landscape and spending the evening at the Kozhikode Government Guest House. On Tuesday, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan confirmed that 93 bodies had been recovered and 128 residents injured due to the landslides in the hilly terrains near Meppadi in Wayanad district.

Chief Minister Vijayan further detailed that 3,069 individuals are currently housed in 45 relief camps in Wayanad, with five ministers coordinating the ongoing relief and rescue efforts. He somberly remarked that the landslide devastation in Wayanad is a 'heart-wrenching disaster,' exacerbated by severe rainfall. As rescue operations continue, he noted, 'We have recovered 93 bodies so far, and 128 are under medical care for injuries. The numbers may change as rescue operations proceed.'

Additionally, one person is reported missing from a landslide in the Vilangad area of Kozhikode. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is actively conducting search and rescue missions. The landslide's force annihilated the Malayangad bridge and damaged several homes along the riverbank, isolating 15 families though no casualties have been reported. Evacuations have been underway along the riverbanks.

In a related incident, around 80 meters of the Kaithapoyil-Anorammal-Valliyad road were buried under debris due to a landslide, necessitating the evacuation of seven families. Similarly, landslides at Pashukadav in Kuttikkad Maruthonkara village in Kozhikode have caused significant disruptions with resultant flooding leading to waterlogged streets and inundated homes and businesses.

As water levels rise in the Kadantara river, inhabitants of Preakkandod, Mukkam, and Peetikappara have been relocated to emergency shelters. Two shutters of the Kakkayam Dam have been raised by four feet incrementally to manage water discharge. Authorities have advised residents living along the banks of the Kuttayyadi river to stay vigilant. (ANI)