Wayanad, Kerala has been hit by massive landslide in the morning time on 30th July. Over 122 people are killed and dozens more are expected to be trapped at various hilly areas. A crucial bridge collapsed due to torrential rains and many villages have been hit badly by landslides. Kerala Government has initiated rescue operations and hundreds of army personnel have been deployed for the same.
Kerala CM Pinrayi Vijayan has addressed media stating that the government has set up over 45 rescue camps in the district for 5000 people. Mundakkai, Attamala, Chooralmala and Kunhome areas have been badly hit with these massive landslides. Due to non-stop rains upto 10 cms in just 24 hours near the area, rivers flooded and caused even more damage than anticipated.
MP and opposition leader Rahul Gandhi is set to visit the affected area quite soon. Kerala Government has announced red alert in 8 districts and almost all dams, reservoirs are already filled to brim. Hence, the government is looking to prepare for another 2018 kind of a disaster.
Dissecting the cause for Wayanad landslide, environmentalists have pointed at climate change as the major reason. They stated that the climate change has resulted in several heating of Arabian Sea and rpid formation of huge clouds in short time, Mesoscale Cloud System. They continued to state that these kind of natural disasters would continue being more frequent in coming days.
Now, Kerala Government has decided to improve mechanisms to save people in major areas prone to landslides and massive floods. In quick reaction to Wayanad Landslide, they set up disaster rescue helplines and firemen are working along with army personnel. Currently, they stopped rescue operations but they anticipate more than 800 people are still trapped.