By Shankar Raj*
Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Government would build a township with all modern amenities to rehabilitate the survivors of the July 30 landslide in Munnadai and Chooralmala areas of Wayanad that has so far claimed 365 lives with 206 still reported missing.
Addressing the media here today, he said the township would be built away from areas vulnerable to landslides and that Joint Land Revenue Commissioner M Geetha would coordinate the efforts in this direction of building the township and pool the resources flowing in from various parts of the world.
A large populated area has been damaged and discussions have begun to build safer dwelling, he said adding that he has instructed Education Minister V Sivan Kutty to go to the area where an entire school got damaged in the landslide and coordinate efforts to help students continue with their studies.
The Chief Minister also asked weather forecasters to update their technology so that such agencies can accurately predict the amount of rainfall that would lash vulnerable areas in the state.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Government would build 100 houses for the survivors, according to reports coming in from Bengaluru quoting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Private companies and groups have also come forward to either build houses or contribute substantial amounts for the survivors of landslide.
Actor Mohanlal, who visited the affected areas in his capacity as Lieutenant Colonel of the Indian Territorial Army today committed Rs 3 crore to rehabilitate the survivors and announced that Viswashanti Foundation would coordinate the efforts. The foundation is a non-profit organisation founded by Mohanlal in the memory of his parents.
Meanwhile, heavy machineries, including heavy duty JCBs today arrived in Munddakai to remove heavy boulders even as the Chief Minister announced that the search operations are in its final phase.
The Indian Navy continues with the rescue and relief operations at landslide affected areas of Wayanad district, amidst inclement weather and difficult terrain. Additional personnel, stores, resources and essential supplies were mobilised from INS Zamorin to augment the relief efforts and support local community impacted by the disaster.
Presently, 78 Naval personnel are involved in the ongoing rescue operations. The teams have been deployed into multiple locations of Chooralmala and Mundakkai area and are working hand in hand with the disaster relief forces and local administration. One of the teams was deployed at river base for maintaining continuous supply of material, food and provisions to the affected people while the other teams have been deployed for search of survivors, clearing of debris and recovery of bodies. A medical post has been set up at Chooralmala to provide medical assistance to the injured.
A team of 03 officers and 30 sailors augmented the efforts of the Indian Army in assembling and constructing the crucial Bailey Bridge over the river connecting the regions of Chooralmala and Mundakkai which were isolated by the landslides on August 1, 2024. The bridge serves as the backbone of logistics support enabling movement of heavy machinery and ambulances.
On August 2, 2024, Indian Navy Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) of INS Garuda operating from Calicut undertook aerial recce of the affected areas for survivors and locating bodies. The helicopter airlifted 12 state police personnel along with rescue equipment to the disaster area, which were inaccessible by road. The sortie was conducted over the hilly terrain in low visibility and challenging weather conditions.
*Shankar Raj is a former editor of The New Indian Express, Karnataka and Kerala, and writes regularly on current affairs.
(With inputs from globalbihari bureau).
