Kerala Landslides: 49 Children Missing or Dead, Schools Heavily Damaged

Kerala General Education Minister V Sivankutty reported that 49 children are either missing or dead following devastating landslides in Wayanad. The Vellarimala Government Higher Secondary School was completely destroyed, with four other schools also damaged. The government will address these issues and offer assistance after consulting with the chief minister.

Kerala General Education Minister, V Sivankutty, announced on Friday that 49 children are either missing or confirmed dead following catastrophic landslides in Wayanad district.

Sivankutty stated that the Vellarimala Government Higher Secondary School was utterly destroyed by the landslide, while four additional schools in the area also incurred significant or minor damages.

'According to reports, 49 children are either dead or missing. The Vellarimala GHSS has been completely demolished. The GLPS Mundakkai has sustained partial damage. Three other schools have minor damages,' the minister confirmed.

He noted that many surviving children have lost essential items like textbooks and certificates, and the government plans to address these issues following discussions with the chief minister.

'Reconstruction of the Vellarimala GHSS is imperative. The other four schools, including Mundakkai, will require maintenance work,' he added.

Official reports indicate that 210 bodies, including those of 83 women and 29 children, have been recovered so far.

The state government has reported that 218 people are still missing, based on records from the Wayanad district administration, verified through Aadhaar documents, tourist details, Asha worker inquiries, and dialogues with individuals in relief camps and hospitals.

The district administration disclosed that approximately 9,910 people displaced by the landslides have been relocated to 94 relief camps in Wayanad.

Many individuals remain unaccounted for, as rescue teams continue to navigate adverse conditions, including waterlogged soil, in the search for survivors and bodies among the ruins.