Torrential downpour and landslides across the hilly regions of Kerala early Friday claimed 16 lives while 52 persons were washed away by the fury of the nature. The mishap occurred at Munnar in Idukki district on the slopes of the Kerala side of the Western Ghats.
All 16 who died in the landslide were workers of tea plantation in Munnar of Idukki district and were sleeping in their company quarters (known in local parlance as laayam) when the mishap happened. Though the landslide and the disaster occurred early morning, the outside world came to know about the mishap after five hours. The NDRF from Tamil Nadu reached the site by 4.30 pm and was engaged in rescue operations when reports last came.
Cooking utensils buried in mud, asbestos and tin sheets strewn around were all there to be seen at the area, which was the habitation of around 80 odd workers near a tea plantation, about 30 km from the tourist town of Munnar.
Big boulders are also scattered around the site. Idukki District Collector H Dinesh said that the bodies of the victims had been retrieved and 12 have been rescued with injuries and shifted to hospital. “Most of the people are plantation workers and from neighbouring Tamil Nadu”, he said.
The tragedy came to light after a forest watchman informed authorities about the landslide. The communication lines have been down in the area since the past three days. The injured have been rushed to Tata General Hospital. Police and fire force personnel and local people first took up the rescue operations amid the rains while the NDRF teams were deployed soon.
According to local residents who were the first to reach the site, 58 persons have been washed away by the flood waters and the chances of finding them are remote.
Elsewhere in Kerala, heavy rains lashed across the State, uprooting trees and electricity poles resulting in power supply failure and communication breakdown. Transport network in the State, especially in the districts of Idukki, Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Wayanadu, Thrissur and Palakkadu have been affected. Besides Munnar, towns of Pala, Ranni and Erumeli have been flooded.
The Indian Meteorological Departtment (IMD) has forecast extremely heavy rainfall for the next two days in the State. Chances are that the State would receive rainfall in excess of 204.5 mm in 24 hours and this could result in flood, said the IMD. Red alert has been declared in the districts of Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad and Wayandu for Saturday.
Munnar MLA S Rajendran told the media earlier in the day that it was difficult to reach the spot as a bridge which provided access to the area was washed away in the rain.
“At least 200-300 people live there. There are many lanes and a canteen at the location. Since one of the bridges to that area was destroyed last night, it has become difficult to access the region,” he said.
The State health department has dispatched 15 ambulances and a special medical team to provide medical assistance to the victims of the landslide. The office of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said it has contacted the Indian Air Force seeking its helicopter for the rescue mission.
“NDRF has been deployed for the rescue operations in Idukki. The team was already stationed at the district. Another NDRF team is also being moved to Idukki,” Vijayan said in a Facebook post.
