The rains in different regions of India, particularly in Kerala, especially Wayanad, have triggered several fatal landslides. More than 70 people have been killed, and hundreds have been buried alive up to this Tuesday. These landslides were initiated by the constant rain and destroyed many lives and property. They estimate that some one hundred and a half families, or approximately 250 people have been saved and were evacuated to the temporary accommodations.
A variety of groups that are leading rescue operations are the fire and rescue staff, civil defence groups, NDRF, and other local groups and individuals. More reinforcement has also been sent in the form of one more NDRF team along with two squads of Kannur Defence Security Corps. In the same context, two helicopters of the Air Force are engaged in rescue missions, namely the Mi-17 and ALH, which also play a vital role in this regard.
Social media is filled with awful videos showing the degree of the disaster. Videos show how roads, vehicles, and properties were covered and buried by the landslides, and some clips reveal uprooted trees and submerged cars, some infested by the muddy water of the landslides. According to the information received, several corpses have been retrieved afloat in various stretches of the Chaliyar River in Malappuram. There is also a glimpse of a car and a jeep that has been overturned beside trees and surrounded by the furious stream.
However, the Congress party in Kerala has uploaded pictures and videos from the scene of the event, which depicts the rescue operations. They said, “Our heart goes out to all the families who lost their dear and near ones. Whilst this is a time of human tragedy, it is also a time to stand up and fight for our survival… We call on the media and users of social networking sites to exercise discretion over the coverage and reporting of the news regarding the tragedy so as not to inflame or utterly distort the truth.”
The situation remains very tense and severe as more personnel try to get to the trapped victims and help them.
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