Published Nov 07, 2026 | 12:23 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 07, 2026 | 12:23 PM
Wayanad landslide survivor Shruthi marries at Guruvayur
After enduring a succession of devastating losses that left her without her family, home and fiancé, S. Shruthi of Chooralmala, Wayanad has taken a step towards rebuilding her life.
Shruthi, whose story became one of the most poignant accounts of personal tragedy in the aftermath of the 2024 Wayanad landslides, married Sandeep, a native of Mananthavady who works at the Wayanad Collectorate, at the Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple on Saturday, 7 November.
The ceremony was attended by close relatives and friends.
Former Revenue Minister K. Rajan was also present, taking on the role of a father figure and overseeing the wedding rituals.
Speaking to reporters after the ceremony, an elated Shruthi said she was happy to begin a new phase of her life.
She said Sandeep had chosen to stand by her despite knowing about the tragedies she had endured.
“I am very happy at this moment. He chose to be by my side, fully aware of everything I have been through. I pray that our future remains filled with happiness,” she said.
For Shruthi, the journey to this day has been marked by losses that came one after another.
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The July 30, 2024, landslides that devastated Chooralmala and Mundakkai in Wayanad wiped out her entire family.
Nine of her relatives, including her parents and sister, were among those killed in the disaster.
Her newly built house was also destroyed, along with cash, gold and other belongings worth several lakhs of rupees.
She reportedly lost around ₹4 lakh in cash and 15 sovereigns of gold.
At a time when she was struggling to come to terms with the loss, her fiancé Jenson, 27, remained her strongest support.
The two had been in a relationship for nearly 10 years and got engaged on June 2, 2024.
However, barely six weeks after the landslides, tragedy struck again.
On September 12, 2024, the vehicle in which Shruthi and Jenson were travelling collided with a private bus at Vellaramkunnu near Kalpetta.
Jenson succumbed to his injuries, leaving Shruthi to face yet another devastating loss.
She too sustained serious injuries, particularly to her legs, in the accident.
Amid the personal tragedies, the struggle to rebuild her life also included finding a means of livelihood.
Recognising her plight, the Keralam Government decided to provide her with a job.
In December 2024, she joined the Revenue Department’s Public Grievance Redressal Cell at the Wayanad Collectorate as a clerk.
On taking up the appointment, Shruthi had expressed gratitude to everyone who stood by her through the difficult period, saying she was thankful for the support she had received.
Now employed at the same Collectorate where Sandeep works, Shruthi has found companionship and a reason to look ahead.
Her wedding at Guruvayur Temple marks a new beginning for a woman whose life was repeatedly upended by tragedy, but who has continued to find the strength to move forward.
(Edited by Sumavarsha, with inputs from Dileep V Kumar)
