Health Minister's office control room: 8075401745, State control room: 9995220557, 9037277026, 9447732827, NHM helpline: 8086010833
Published Jul 30, 2024 | 10:38 AM ⚊ Updated Jul 30, 2024 | 11:35 AM
Rescue and relief operations at Wayanad landslide. (Supplied)
As 23 members have been killed in a massive landslide in the Wayanad district of Kerala, the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) and other authorities are trying to expedite the rescue operations as soon as possible.
Apart from the 23 killed, many are feared trapped in the pre-dawn landslide. Meanwhile, rescue operations are being hindered by ongoing heavy rainfall.
Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Noolpuzha villages were among the areas affected and cut off by the landslides, authorities said.
According to district authorities, several families have been moved to the various camps or homes of their relatives in the wake of the landslides.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said all government agencies have joined the search and rescue operations, and state ministers will reach the hilly district to lead the rescue activities.
The health department has opened a district-level control room. Health Minister Veena George informed that all hospitals in the district, including Vythiri, Kalpetta, Meppadi, and Mananthavady, are ready, and all health workers reported for duty last night. She further added additional teams of health workers will be deployed in Wayanad.
A state-level team led by NHM State Mission Director Dr Jeevan Babu will coordinate the health department’s activities locally.
The team includes Health Department Director Dr KJ Reena, Additional Director Dr Ritha, and NHM State Program Manager Dr Bijo.
Control rooms have been set up in the Health Minister’s office and the Health Department Directorate.
Contact numbers:
Control room in Chooralmala
A taluk-level control room has been opened at Chooralmala
The control room numbers are:
Police department
A special control room has been set up at the Police Headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram to coordinate relief efforts.
They can be contacted on the numbers: 9497900402, 0471 2721566.
Personnel from the Kerala Armed Police 4th and 5th Battalions, Malabar Special Police, and other units have been deployed to Wayanad. The team includes officers who have received special training in disaster management. A special police team has also been deployed to Malappuram district for rescue operations.
The State Police Chief, who is supervising the control room, has instructed the ADGP of Law and Order to coordinate the efforts, as the IG of Northern Range and the DIG of Kannur are set to reach Wayanad soon, to lead the rescue operations.
Meanwhile, the IMD has predicted a moderate to intense spell of rainfall with wind speed gusting to 50 kmph in Malappuram, Kasaragod, Kozhikode, Idukki, Ernakulam, Wayanad, Kannur, Palakkad and Thrissur districts.
Following the prediction and risk of landslides, the Palakkad district administration has issued restrictions in the district too.
