
(Image source from: x.com/ani_digital)
In the heart of the devastated hills of Wayanad district, the village of Mundakkai remains desolate after a landslide struck two days ago. The village has become a tragic scene, with numerous casualties reported, many still missing, and those who survived rescued amid perilous conditions. The rescue efforts, led by government bodies, have been relentless as they continue to search for those unaccounted for. Amid this crisis, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has reported that 1,592 individuals have been saved, yet Mundakkai has proven to be the most challenging site for rescue teams. This village, nestled in the Western Ghats, has been completely transformed by the destructive force of the landslides, wiping out homes, public buildings, and other structures in its path.
Based on inputs from Kerala Govt. Forest Officials & Villagers, 122 Inf Battalion (TA) Madras, led by Sub Gijil, Sub Jayesh & Nb Sub Anilkumar along with 12 Jawans, rescued 19 civilians stranded in ElaResort & VanaRaniResort beyond Mundkayi village: Defence PRO for Kerala
— ANI (@ANI) July 31, 2024
(Pics:… pic.twitter.com/KFnhxzRKy6
About 2 km from the junction, Mundakkai village faced a challenging situation. It wasn’t until Tuesday evening that a 30-member NDRF team reached the village. The rescue initiative started on Wednesday with 100 state Fire and Rescue department members, a 55-member scuba diving team from Kochi, and Army and NDRF personnel. They discovered 10 bodies on the day of the incident. Army officers formed a human chain to rescue stranded individuals in Mundakkai by using a rope in the Iruvazhinji river. K Babu, a Mundakkai panchayat member, stated that the village previously had a population of about 1,200 people. Unfortunately, none remain. Among the 540 houses that once were there, very few remain. Babu, living in Kottanad village in Meppadi, mentioned that it was hard to determine the exact number of casualties as many individuals are still unaccounted for, and some bodies may have been washed away in the landslide disaster.
#WATCH | Kerala: Latest visuals from Wayanad's Chooralmala where the search and rescue operations are underway. A landslide that occurred here yesterday, claimed the lives of 143 people.
— ANI (@ANI) July 31, 2024
(Latest visuals) pic.twitter.com/1gMUQXOgee
He mentioned considering visiting the relief camps and gathering information from survivors in Mundakkai. By noon on Wednesday, the team successfully transported an earth-moving vehicle over the Iruvazhanji river to Mundakkai. The machinery was carefully lowered into the water and used to clear large rocks obstructing the path to cross to the opposite bank. A temporary narrow path over the river was flooded on Wednesday due to heavy rains, officials said. Around 18:00, the rescuers returned to the adventure site from Mundakka on the same path, pulled up with ropes.