At least 15 people have been killed after heavy rain caused a landslide in Kerala’s Idukki district early this morning, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said Friday evening.
Fifteen others have been rescued so far and are undergoing treatment at the Tata General Hospital in Munnar. Cost of treatment will be borne by the state, the Chief Minister said, announcing ₹ 5 lakh as compensation for the families of those killed.
Officials say the landslide happened in the Rajamalai area of the district, which is around 25 km from the tourist town of Munnar. Around 80 people lived in the area, officials said, adding that they do not know, at this point, how many more are trapped under the mud.
Taluk officials said a connecting bridge was swept away yesterday, making access to the area difficult. Rescue teams have also been slowed by tough terrain.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted Friday afternoon to say he was “pained by the loss of lives” and to announce compensation, from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund, of ₹ 2 lakh each to family members of those who had died and ₹ 50,000 to those who were injured.
A 50-member strong special task force of the state fire service – who have been equipped for night-time work – are among the emergency services personnel sent, Chief Minister Pinaryai Vijayan has said. The Chief Minister’s Office has also sought assistance from IAF helicopters to aid in rescue and relief efforts.
An NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) team has reached the landslide site.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan tweeted that a second team, based in Thrissur, was also en route and police, fire service personnel and forest and revenue officials had been instructed to join rescue efforts.
“Police, fire service and forest and revenue officials have been instructed to join the rescue efforts,” Chief Minister Vijayan said in another tweet.
Health Minister KK Shailaja has said a mobile medical team and 15 ambulances had been sent to Idukki, with more ready if needed. She also directed other hospitals to be ready to treat survivors.
“Pained by the loss of lives due to a landslide in Rajamalai, Idukki. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover quickly. NDRF and the administration are working on the ground, providing assistance to the affected,” Prime Minister Modi tweeted in response to the tragedy.
“Ex-gratia of ₹ 2 lakh each from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to a landslide in Rajamalai, Idukki. ₹ 50,000 each would be given to those injured due to the landslide,” he said.
On Thursday heavy rains caused a temporary bridge in the district to collapse, state authorities said. The entire district was on red alert for likely extremely heavy rainfall today.
Idukki district also saw floods in low-lying areas like Munnar, which is a popular tourist destination near Rajamalai, because of rising water levels of a nearby river.
Night travel has been banned in Idukki district, the state disaster management authority was quoted by news agency PTI, adding that several roads and highways had been closed due to rains.
Heavy rain also lashed Ernakulam district, with a Shiva temple in Aluva flooded after significantly increased water levels in the Periyar River.
Rain and landslides also disrupted life in Wayanad district’s Kurichiyarmala area, where two houses have been damaged so far, according to ANI.
Wayanad district’s Panamaram area has also reported floods after continuous rainfall over the last three days, news agency ANI reported.
A red alert has been issued for tomorrow (August 8) for Idukki, Thrissur, Wayanad and Palakkad districts, while an orange alert has been sounded for all other districts except Thiruvananthapura.
Idukki, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasargod districts have been placed under orange alert for Sunday (August 9).
In another tweet Chief Minister Vijayan warned all people in red alert-districts to prepare for more rain and of the increased likelihood of landslides and appealed to all to listen to instructions of local officials.
