Kerala: Governor Arif Mohammed Khan leaves for landslide hit Kozhikode by IAF Aircraft
Jul 30, 2024
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], July 30 : Hours after a massive landslide hit Kerala's Wayanad and Kozhikode, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, departed for Kozhikode on an Indian Air Force aircraft.
He will visit the severely affected Wayanad later on Wednesday morning.
According to reports, the governor will assess the ground situation and spend the night at the Kozhikode Government Guest House.
Notably, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stated on Tuesday that 93 bodies have been recovered and 128 people have been injured after massive landslides struck the hilly areas near Meppadi in Kerala's Wayanad district.
He further mentioned that 3,069 people are in 45 relief camps in Wayanad alone, with five ministers coordinating relief and rescue operations.
In a press conference, Vijayan said, "The landslide in Wayanad is a heart-wrenching disaster. There was extremely heavy rainfall. An entire area has been wiped out. We have recovered 93 bodies so far, but the numbers may change. There are 128 people receiving treatment for injuries. Many who went to sleep last night have been swept away."
One person has been reported missing in a landslide that hit the Vilangad area of Kozhikode district on Tuesday morning, while Wayanad is still reeling from landslides triggered by torrential rainfall.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is engaged in search and rescue operations. The landslide destroyed the Malayangad bridge and partially damaged four houses along the riverbank.
As a result, 15 families are isolated, though no casualties have been reported. Residents along the riverbanks have been relocated. In another incident, a landslide on the Kaithapoyil-Anorammal-Valliyad road has buried approximately 80 metres of the road under debris, leading to the evacuation of seven families in the area.
Additionally, landslides in the Pashukadav area of Kuttikkad Maruthonkara village in the Kozhikode district have caused widespread disruption. Flooding from the rains has led to waterlogging of streets, and houses and shops have been inundated.
Due to rising water levels in the Kadantara river, residents from Preakkandod, Mukkam, and Peetikappara regions have been evacuated to temporary shelters. Two shutters of the Kakkayam Dam were raised by four feet in various stages due to the rising water levels.
Residents living along the banks of the Kuttayyadi river have been advised to exercise caution.
