Thiruvananthapuram : The rescue operations in Wayanad are nearing completion, the priority being to save lives and rehabilitate those dislodged by the disaster, said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at press meet held in capital Saturday.
Rescuers risked their lives to great lengths to find and save anyone that might appear to be alive.. So far, 215 bodies have been recovered - 87 women, 98 men, and 30 children. Of these, 148 bodies have been handed over and 206 people are still missing. Identifying bodies from the Chaliyar River in Nilambur is proving difficult. Sixty-seven unidentified bodies have been found; their funerals are managed by panchayats who are arranging possible religious rites.
Currently, 81 injured individuals remain hospitalized, while 206 have been discharged to camps.
There are 10,042 people staying in 93 relief camps in Wayanad, with 1,707 in 10 camps in Chooralmala.
Search operations are continuing, involving 1,419 personnel from the Fire Force, NDRF, Forest Department, Police, Indian Army, and volunteers from Tamil Nadu. K-9 squads and the Tamil Nadu Medical Team are also participating. Advanced equipment like Human Rescue Radar and drone-based radar are being used.
The people of Kerala are united in their support, with various departments and volunteers ensuring coordinated efforts. Forest department officials recently rescued a six-member tribal family in Attamala. In Chooralmala, 866 police officers are leading search operations. Fire and Rescue Services, along with volunteers, have played a crucial role, rescuing around 1,000 people using a zip line bridge and a temporary bridge. The Uralungal Labor Contract Cooperative Society contributed significantly by constructing helipads and providing food.
The government plans a comprehensive rehabilitation process for the survivors, aiming for swift completion. A new, safer area will be identified for constructing a township. The Education Minister will visit Wayanad to ensure that children’s education is not disrupted.
Following the disaster, there has been an appeal for contributions to the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF). The global community has responded positively. Donations can be made online to CMDRF through various methods, with receipts available for download. The QR code system for UPI transactions has been withdrawn to prevent misuse.
Various offers to build houses and provide land demonstrate the global community's compassion. A 'Help for Wayanad Cell' will coordinate these offers under Joint Land Revenue Commissioner A. Geetha IAS. An email ID (helpforwayanad@kerala.gov.in) and a call centre with dedicated phone numbers (9188940013, 9188940014, 9188940015) have been created for donor communication.
Apart from Wayanad, multiple landslides occurred last Tuesday at Vilangad, in Vaniyambalam Panchayat, Vadakara Taluk, Kozhikode. Landslides were reported in Kochuthodukunnu, Panam, Valiyapanam, Paniyeri and Muchankai areas as well.
The government is committed to improving disaster warning systems so as to address the emergent challenges of climate change. The establishment of the Institute for Climate Change Studies in Kottayam aims to conduct research and provide policy advice. Detailed investigations will be conducted to understand the root causes of the Wayanad disaster and develop advanced prediction tools for natural disasters, said CM.
