Extremely heavy rainfall in Kerala caused devastating landslides in Wayanad earlier on Tuesday. This calamity left over 140 people died and over 200 people injured, while some are still suspected to be missing or trapped.  

The landslide and heavy rainfall in the region were reportedly caused due to warm temperature of the Arabian Sea. The rise in surface temperature of the sea leads to increased moisture in the atmosphere. 

The landslide caused massive destruction to the houses, roads and buildings and the water bodies. However, the rescue operation carried out by members of fire, civil defense, NDRF and local emergency response etc. to locate the missing and trapped people is still underway.  

About 200 Indian Army personnel from DSC Centre Kannur and 122 TA Battalion from Kozhikode, a MI-17 and an ALH are coordinating with the rescue teams. The videos of this horrifying landslide have surfaced online. 

Till yet, over 120 people have been rescued, and those who are injured are receiving treatment at various hospitals of the district. The rescue team have also found several bodies of victims, which were washed by the flood. These were found in the Chaliyar River in Nilambur Village.  

IMD issues Orange Alert

Meanwhile, in response to the landslide caused, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) and neighboring districts, issued orange alert in the Wayanad and the neighboring districts, predicting heavy rainfall on July 31 and August 1. Colleges, schools and other private and governmental institutions are announced to be closed. 

Two days statewide mourning

Chief Minister Piniarayi Vijyan on Tuesday also announced a statewide mourning for two days on July 30 and 31. He also held a meeting with the rescue teams to conduct the operation and expressed his grief over the lives lost.  

He also said that about 3069 people are admitted in 45 relief camps in Wayanad, and five ministers are also coordinating and are putting in their efforts for the relief and the rescue operations. 

Wayanad ranks 13th among India’s most landslide prone areas

The region’s fragile and sensitive ecology, combined with a steadily increased population, makes it prone to such disasters. The Wayanad region of Kerala ranked 13^th among India’s most landslide prone areas and out of 30 most landslide-prone districts of the country, ten are in Kerala. 

Wayanad region as ecologically sensitive area

According to a study in 2021, the landslides in the state mainly occurred in the plantation areas. The study shows that about 56% of landslides occurred in these areas. According to a 2022 study, about 62% of forest areas have disappeared in regions that are in Wayanad now, between 1950 and 2018. The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health revealed that until the 1950’s, 85% of the total area of the Wayanad region was densely covered with forests. 

The Western Ghats Ecology Expert Pane set up by the Government under Ecologist Madhav Gadgil has also said that the most vulnerable and sensitive sections of the country should be monitored and protected.   

The Wayanad Hill Ranges should also be declared as ecologically sensitive and the practices such as mining, quarrying, new thermal power plants, hydropower projects, and large-scale wind energy projects be banned, considering ecologically sensitive.