Kerala Governor calls loss of lives in Wayanad landslides a 'colossal tragedy'

Wayanad (Kerala) [India], July 31 (ANI): Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan said that his heart reaches out to the families who lost their kin in landslides triggered by heavy monsoon rains in the southern state.
"Heart goes out to the families; what a colossal tragedy. Not only people here, but the whole state and the whole country are feeling very sad. The positive thing is that the district administration, Superintendent of Police, and others reached the site in less than two hours. Our armed forces took no time to reach the site...,' Khan told ANI.
Earlier in the day, Governor Khan visited WIMS hospital, Dr Mooppens Medical College, and interacted with the relatives of the injured.
Health Minister Veena George was present during the visit.
In a statement, Raj Bhavan said, "Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, appealed to the people all over the country to help the landslide hit people of Wayanad".
He also visited Chooral Mala in Wayanad, where joint rescue and relief operations are carried out by the Indian Army, NDRF, Fire and Rescue Force, Kerala Police, volunteers and others, the statement added.
The visits were made on Wednesday.
As per the Kerala Revenue Department, the death toll in Wayanad landslides has risen to 160.
Meanwhile, search and rescue operations continue at landslide-affected Chooralmala in Wayanad. 1200 rescue workers from the Indian Army, DSC centre, Territorial Army, NDRF, Indian Navy and the IAF are deployed at the landslide hit areas.
The Commandant of the Para Regimental Training Centre, Brigadier Arjun Seagan, said that 500 to 600 personnel from the NDRF, army, state police, forest officials, and volunteers have been carrying out the rescue operations on Wednesday.
At least two massive landslides struck Kerala's Wayanad on Tuesday morning, causing widespread destruction. The first occurred in Mundakkai, a town, and the second in Chooralmala. The massive landslides wreaked havoc in the region, damaging houses and roads, uprooting trees, and swelling water bodies, which hindered rescue operations. Relief and rescue efforts are currently underway.
The first landslide occurred at 2 am on July 30, followed by another at 4:10 am, causing immense damage to homes and livelihoods. Many areas, including Meppadi, Mundakkai and Chooralmala, have been isolated, and roads have been washed away. The Vellarmala GVH School was completely buried. (ANI)