Survivors of the landslides lament the change, expressing disbelief at the disaster that had befallen their picturesque village.
Published Aug 02, 2024 | 1:00 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 02, 2024 | 1:00 PM
The search and rescue mission in Chooralmala, Mundakkai and Attamala in Wayanad district of Kerala enters the fourth day on Friday, August 2. Hopes are dimming of finding more survivors, and the priority now is shifting to conducting the final rites of the dead and providing succor to families that have lost loved ones and find themselves displaced and homeless.
The state government put the death toll at 189 as of 12 am on Friday, 2 August Thursday, including 25 children. Among the missing are 29 children.
Families with members missing, however, cling on to hope. At the shelter for the displaced at Government Higher Secondary School, Meppadi, South First interacted with some of the 561 people. There are 161 children in the shelter, who somehow attempt a return to normalcy; older residents appear quite scarred, and the atmosphere is heavy with grief and uncertainty. Many residents have lost their loved ones, and the shock and sorrow are still very much raw.
Bailey Bridge constructed by the Army
Volunteers working with the rescuers said nearly all survivors had been rescued from the rubble, even though personnel continued to search through tonnes of mud and rock. Recovering bodies, they said, is now the priority, as the hope of finding people still alive is bleak.
The disaster-affected are currently housed in nine relief camps. It was hard to conduct interviews with residents, as many adults could scarcely hold back tears. Looking at the ravaged area, one could scarcely imagine that just days ago, Mundakkai was a thriving tourist hotspot.
Rescuers searching the debris
Survivors lament the change, expressing disbelief at the disaster that had befallen their picturesque village. As word spread that all survivors had been rescued, those awaiting to hear about their missed loved ones fell silent.
The relief camps are reasonably well equipped, and survivors are getting mental health support and medical care, besides food and shelter. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, ministers and MLAs visited those sheltering in the camp and offered assurances that the government would take care of all needs.
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and his sister and Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who will contest the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency bypoll, also visited residents of the camps and expressed solidarity.
A cadaver dog in service at Mundakkai
The appeal for contributions to the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund is seeing a good response – documentary filmmaker Anand Patwardhan, who received a sum of ₹2,20,000 in prize money at the International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala donated the cash to the CMDRF.
Relief material too is pouring in from different parts. Trucks laden with essentials like food, clothing, and medicine rumbled through the night.
Madras Engineer Group of the Indian Army, informally called Madras Sappers, managed to erect the Bailey bridge despite the relentless rain and fast-flowing river. Work on getting the bridge ready continued through the night, and now that the bridge has been erected, earthmovers and heavy machinery can be transported to the site.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan consoling a survivor
A four-member ministerial committee has been formed to oversee rehabilitation. The state government has announced measures to ensure displaced students can continue their education without disruption.
The focus now is on identifying the dead and arranging for their last rites, besides providing psychological support to survivors. Care is being taken to prevent disease outbreak in relief camps.
Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi at Mundakkai
At the all-party meeting at the district collectorate, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan together stressed the need for unity and comprehensive rehabilitation.
(Edited by Rosamma Thomas)
