Wayanad, Kerala – August 3, 2024
In a gesture of solidarity and support, actor Mohanlal visited the landslide-affected Mundakkai village in Wayanad, Kerala, on Saturday. Dressed in his Indian Territorial Army uniform, the actor, who holds the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel, met with Army personnel involved in the ongoing rescue operations.
Mohanlal, who was conferred the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 2009, praised the rescue teams on social media and expressed his gratitude to the 122 Infantry Battalion, TA Madras, for their dedicated efforts. In addition, he contributed Rs 25 lakh to the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund to aid in the recovery and relief efforts.
The devastating landslides that struck Chooralmala and Mundakkai on July 30 have claimed 308 lives as of Friday, according to Kerala Health Minister Veena George. The recovery efforts have so far unearthed 215 bodies and 143 body parts, including 98 males, 87 females, and 30 children. Post-mortem procedures have been completed on 212 bodies and 140 body parts, with 148 bodies identified by relatives.
Currently, 82 individuals are receiving treatment in hospitals across Wayanad, Kozhikode, and Malappuram districts. A total of 504 people were admitted to hospitals following the disaster, with 205 having been discharged so far.
In response to the tragedy, the state government has implemented special cremation guidelines. On Friday, three unidentified bodies were cremated at the Kalpetta public crematorium. Various officials, including Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Department Minister OR Kelu, Kalpetta MLA T Siddique, and District Collector DR Meghasree, attended the ceremony to pay their respects.
Local residents have expressed their grief and fear. Satish, a local resident, remarked on the scale of the disaster, saying, “I am scared. I lost many of my friends. I’m sad. This is the first time such a big tragedy has hit.” Another resident described the loss of several family members and ongoing search efforts for the missing.
Ravindran, another local, noted that while panchayat officials had warned residents to evacuate, only half had complied. He lamented the significant loss of friends and relatives, emphasizing the severity of the situation.
Relief teams began search operations with a dog squad at 7 a.m. today. The Indian Army is also working on constructing a bridge in the Punchirimattom region to facilitate search and rescue operations. Air Marshal B Manikantan and Brigadier Salil conducted an aerial survey of the affected areas to assess the situation.
In response to the crisis, the Kerala government has requested additional radar equipment from Delhi. One Xaver Radar and four Reeco Radars will be airlifted from Delhi today to aid in the relief efforts.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan commended the heroic efforts of rescue teams, noting that six lives were saved from a remote tribal settlement after an extensive eight-hour operation by forest officials. “The heroism of the rescue teams reminds us that Kerala’s resilience shines brightest in the darkest times,” the Chief Minister said.
As the recovery efforts continue, the focus remains on rescuing survivors, providing aid to those affected, and honoring the memory of those lost in this tragic disaster.
