Landslides in Wayanad echo 2019 tragedy in Western Ghats: A look at the history of landslides in India

Landslides struck the villages of Kavalappara and Puthumala, situated near Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiri district, in August 2019. Worsened by the flooding of the Chaliyar River, the incident claimed 17 lives

By: Express Web Desk

New Delhi | Updated: July 30, 2024 06:18 PM IST

2 min read

wayanad landslide, kerala, indian express

At least 50 people were killed in a series of massive landslides triggered by heavy rains in Wayanad on Tuesday, according to officials. (Express Photo)

In the early hours of Tuesday, Kerala’s Wayanad district experienced a devastating series of landslides triggered by heavy rains. The calamity has claimed at least 50 lives, with numerous individuals still trapped under the debris. With villages washed away, authorities have been carrying out extensive rescue operations. The Army’s Southern Command has deployed rescue teams and helicopters. However, bad weather has hindered rescue efforts by the NDRF, Army and local officials.

Television footage captured the harrowing scenes of rescue workers navigating through thick mud and uprooted trees to reach those stranded. Vehicles were swept off roads and were seen submerged in swollen rivers. Authorities have mobilized helicopters to assist with rescue operations, and the army has been called upon to construct a temporary bridge after the main bridge was destroyed by landslides.

This disaster is reminiscent of the landslides that struck the villages of Kavalappara and Puthumala, situated near Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiri district in the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats, in August 2019. The landslides, worsened by the Chaliyar River’s flooding, resulted in 17 fatalities in Puthumala and the destruction of 53 houses, a mosque, a temple, a shop, and two estate quarters.

Take a look at the history of landslides in India:

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