Wayanad Landslides LIVE: Death toll crosses 90, more than 120 injured; Army & NDRF rescue efforts continue

As Indian armed forces along with state agencies and NDRF personnel remain engaged in rescue operation at Wayand, visuals have surfaced of Air Force evacuated stranded persons via helicopter.

In a video, Air Force personnel were seen loading people into a helicopter for evacuation.

In a separate statement, the Army said that helicopters have also been pressed for reconnaissance of the landslide-hit region of Wayanad.

In the landslide-hit Wayanad in Kerala, the Indian Army has rescued more than 150 persons, according to a statement.

The Army has been coordinating relief and rescue operations in Kerala with NDRF and other agencies.

As of now, 225 Army personnel are deployed in rescue work and around 140 more personnel are on standby, according to the statement.

The Army said that several more teams have been mobilised from different parts of the country and are on their way to Wayanad.

The Army is bringing in bridging resources from Delhi and Bengaluru and is inducting expertly-trained sniffer dogs from Meerut.

Moreover, two additional columns from Bengaluru and Trivandrum are planned to be shifted by Indian Air force assets, according to the statement.

Kerala CM P Vijayan said that more than 600 personnel from a number of agencies are engaged in rescue work in Kerala’s landslide-hit Wayanad.

Vijayan said that 321 members of the Fire Force and 60 members of NDRF were engaged in Wayanad. He further said that another 89-member NDRF team was on its way from Bengaluru. He also said that the Indian Army personnel are also engaged in the rescue efforts

Previously, it had been reported that around 200 Army soldiers had been deployed to Wayanad for relief and rescue efforts.

Speaking to the media, Kerala CM P Vijayan said that around 3,000 people are sheltering in 45 relief camps in the wake of the Wayanad landslides.

Vijayan said that five ministers of the Kerala government are in Wayanad to oversee relief and rescue work.

Giving details of the multi-agency relief work in Wayanad, Vijayan said that the water authority has sent two tankers with 20,000 litres to Wayanad.

Vijayan said that more surgery and forensic doctors have been sent to Wayanad to assist the healthcare workers.

At least 93 bodies have so far been discovered in landslide-hit Kerala, said Kerala CM P Vijayan.

Vijayan further said that 128 people have been injured in the landslides and are undergoing treatment.

Vijayan added that an entire area has been wiped out from the landslides.

These dogs, trained at the Army’s Remount Veterinary Corps Centre (RVC) in Meerut Cantonment, can find people trapped under mud.

The dogs are being deployed at the request of Kerala CM P Vijayan.

“These dogs are experts in rescuing people from disaster-struck areas and the canine team will be arriving soon at Wayanad,” said a defence PRO.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had requested the Army to send its expert canine team to Wayanad after getting reports of several hundred people missing from the area possibly having been washed away in the torrential flow of mud and rocks.

In latest visuals from Kerala’s Wayanad, the Indian Army personnel are seen engaged in rescue operations in landslide-hit areas.

At least 84 people have died in the landslides, as per the Kerala government.

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said that two people have been rescued alive in the Wayanad landslide, according to PTI.

Rai made the remarks in the Rajya Sabha. He further said that 70 deaths have been confirmed.

Separately, the Kerala government has said that at least 84 deaths have been confirmed, according to ANI.

The death toll in the landslides in Kerala’s Wayanad has risen to 84, according to Kerala government.

Kerala Chief Secretary V Venu said that over 80 bodies were recovered as rescue operations continued in the landslide-hit regions in Kerala’s Wayanad on Tuesday.

According to the State Revenue Minister’s office, around 116 people were injured and undergoing treatment at various hospitals in the district.

Union Minister of State George Kurian is heading to Wayanad to lead relief and rescue operations.

On the directions of PM Modi, the minister will coordinate with National Disaster Relief Force personnel, paramilitary forces, Kerala Government officials and other agencies in the operation.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Tuesday spoke to his Kerala counterpart Pinarayi Vijayan on the landslides caused by heavy rainfall, assured him of the state’s full support in rescue and relief efforts and announced immediate dispatch of a team to assist the neighbour.

The Chief Minister directed Tamil Nadu authorities to release Rs 5 crore to the neighbouring state towards relief activities and tasked officials to send a rescue team to Kerala to assist it in its rescue and relief work.

Stalin, who spoke over phone to Vijayan, conveyed to him his condolences and sympathies over the loss of lives due to the natural disaster. He assured him that Tamil Nadu shall extend all necessary support, an official release here said.

Expressing grief over the loss of lives in landslides in Kerala’s Wayanad district, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said Karnataka is committed to providing all possible help to the neighbouring state.

“Deeply saddened by the catastrophic floods in Wayanad. My heart goes out to the affected families. Karnataka is committed to providing all possible help to Kerala in this challenging time. Let’s stand united and strong,” Siddaramaiah said in a post on ‘X’.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has ordered the release of Rs 5 crore in financial aid for Kerala to help the state carry out relief measures smoothly.

The state will dispatch 20 firefighters and 20 State Disaster Management Authority personnel.

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi will likely go to Wayanad on Wednesday to take stock of the situation.

Rahul Gandhi is the MP from Wayanad. Earlier today, he published a post on X saying, “I am deeply anguished by the massive landslides near Meppadi in Wayanad. My heartfelt condolences go out to the bereaved families who have lost their loved ones. I hope those still trapped are brought to safety soon.”

He also raised the issue in the Lok Sabha today.

The authorities have updated the death toll in the Wayanad landslide tragedy to 54. Several people are still missing. Earlier, the district collector Meghasree had confirmed 36 deaths in Chooralmala. At least nine bodies swept away by the Chaliyar River have been recovered in Malappuram.

Teams of the NDRF, Indian Army, the Navy and emergency services are conducting joint rescue operations as they race against time to reach trapped and injured survivors of the massive landslide tragedy in Wayanad. Three NDRF teams have been deployed to handle the crisis. One of the teams has started the rescue operation while two other teams are en route.

Rescue teams are working tirelessly to evacuate those stranded or trapped under debris and search for those missing in the landslides, with the Indian Army and Navy divers joining the efforts.

A Defence PRO said that a team of 43 personnel, led by the Second-in-Command from the 122 Infantry Battalion (TA) MADRAS, has been mobilised to aid in the ongoing rescue efforts

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and took stock of the situation in Wayanad. The home minister assured all possible help from the central government.

The Kerala government on Tuesday sought the assistance of the Defence forces for rescue operations in the wake of the devastating landslides in Wayanad district.

A Defence PRO said that a team of 43 personnel, led by the Second-in-Command from the 122 Infantry Battalion (TA) MADRAS, has been mobilised to aid in the ongoing rescue efforts.

The team, comprising a Medical Officer, two Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs), and 40 soldiers, is equipped to provide critical assistance in the affected area.

Separately, a Defence statement said based on a requisition received from the Kerala government on Tuesday morning “for rescue of approximately 250 persons likely to be stranded in a major landslide in Meppadi Panchayat” in Vythiri Taluk two rescue columns of Indian Army with a strength of approximately 200 soldiers from Defence Security Corps (DSC) Centre, Kannur, along with medical team from Military Hospital Kannur and troops from Territorial Army from Kozhikode has been deployed.

It said assistance was sought from the Indian Army and Indian Air Force.

Kerala Minister MB Rajesh confirmed the deaths of 44 people in the landslides that hit Wayanad’s Meppadi area in the early hours of Tuesday.

Minister Rajesh said that 250 people have been rescued so far and were shifted to temporary shelters.

He added that rescue operations are undertaken on a war footing.

“So far 44 people have died. We fear the gravity of this tragedy is much more. Rescue operations are being carried out by various agencies on a war footing. We have sought help from the Army which will reach the affected area soon,” MB Rajesh said while speaking to ANI.

A man, covered in mud, was seen desperately trying to stand by clinging to a huge boulder in gushing flood water, in one of the harrowing scenes from a landslide-hit hamlet in Kerala’s Wayanad district on Tuesday.

The man, suspected to have been washed away by the flood water, somehow got stuck between huge boulders but was unable to stand or swim to safety due to the thick marsh and strong currents.

The harrowing visuals of the hapless man’s attempt to survive amidst scattered boulders in the floodwater came from Mundakkai village, where hundreds of people were reportedly trapped following the deadly landslides in the early hours of Tuesday triggered by heavy rainfall.

The visuals, taken by one of the villagers, were aired by television channels, urging authorities to send rescue teams to the location.

Over 40 people have died and hundreds are trapped after three landslides struck hilly areas near Meppadi in Kerala’s Wayanad district within four hours. Experts note that most landslips, such as the one in Kerala, occur during heavy rainfall because of geologically weak soil, deforestation and careless construction.

Heavy rains triggered a series of massive landslides in the hilly areas of Kerala’s Wayanad district early on Tuesday, leaving at least 45 persons dead and sparking apprehensions of possible increase in fatalities due to hundreds of people feared trapped under the debris.

Calamity struck in the early hours of Tuesday, catching the sleeping victims off-guard. Frantic calls for help were made and the rescue personnel were racing against time to pull out survivors.

According to the district collector Meghasree D R, the latest toll stood at 45. In connection with the landslide in Chooralmala she confirmed that 36 deaths have been reported. Additionally, nine bodies swept away by the Chaliyar River were recovered in Malappuram.

Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday condoled the loss of lives in the landslides in Kerala’s Wayanad, and urged UDF workers to provide all help to those affected.

Rahul Gandhi said he has spoken to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the Wayanad district collector, who have assured him that rescue operations are underway.

The death toll is expected to rise in what can be described as one of the deadliest landslides this year has seen so far. The district was hit by three landslides in a matter of three hours, leaving a huge trail of destruction on its way.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Army Chief in the wake of landslides in Wayanad, Kerala.

The Indian Army has mobilised four columns including two columns ex 122 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army) and two ex the DSC Centre, Kannur.

The Army has deployed 225 personnel including medical personnel for the search and rescue operation in Wayanad.

The Army’s engineering group will be deployed to Wayanad immediately to conduct rescue and related operations in the area affected by landslides. The unit involved in this mission is the Army’s Madras Engineering Group (MEG), which will be arriving from Bangalore.

The engineering department of the army is prepared to implement an alternative system to manage the situation effectively. This decision was made following discussions between the revenue secretary and Major General V.T. Mathew, who is in charge of the Kerala-Karnataka Army region.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also had a telephonic conversation with Army Chief Upendra Dwivedi about the rescue operation in Wayanad.

CM suggests use of drones and police dogs for rescue operations

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has directed the deployment of police drones to assist in the rescue operations. Additionally, the dog squad will be utilised to aid in the search and rescue efforts.