Wayanad landslide: Kerala govt announces 2-day mourning; top official warns ‘situation very grave’; death toll at 84

Wayanad landslide: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday announced a statewide mourning for two days following devastating landslides that claimed at least 84 lives in Wayanad district.

The Kerala government has declared official mourning on Tuesday, July 30, and Wednesday, July 31.

The Kerala revenue minister's office has reported that the death toll from the recent landslides has risen to 84, with 116 injuries confirmed. Additionally, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall in Kerala until July 31.

A red alert has been issued for Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasargod districts. Additionally, an orange alert is in effect for Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Ernakulam districts today.

The landslides triggered by heavy rainfall early Tuesday have caused widespread destruction, destroying homes, swelling water bodies, and uprooting trees. Affected areas include Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Noolpuzha villages, which are now cut off due to the landslides.

Kerala Chief Secretary Dr V Venu has stated that the situation remains ‘grave’. "We have about 70 plus bodies that have reached our hospitals. Steps are being taken for inquest and postmortem," Venu told the media. Later the chief secretary informed that the death toll had risen to 80.

Due to the IMD-issued red alert in Kerala, Venu stated that rescue helicopters have been unable to take off. "Air rescues and the air-dropping of supplies have been postponed," he said.

"The challenge is that we can only do rescue by surface. That is hampered because there is a very strong water current and the bridge has collapsed. The NDRF is there in strength, we have backup of Army. We have received offers of support from other formations as well...", Dr V Venu added.

At Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's request, a Navy River Crossing team is being dispatched, according to the Chief Minister's Office. The Army and Air Force have also been mobilised for rescue operations in Chooralmala, where efforts are being hindered by the collapse of a main bridge.

On Tuesday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin directed the release of ₹5 crore for relief efforts in Kerala and instructed officials to deploy a rescue team to assist with the ongoing rescue and relief operations in the affected state.