Kerala is facing severe disruptions due to heavy rains, with Wayanad hit particularly hard. Landslides in the region have claimed 308 lives so far, including 27 children and 76 women, primarily from the severely affected areas of Mundakkai and Churalmala. The Indian Army has successfully rescued four survivors—two men and two women—using an Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH). The rescue operations continue three days after the initial landslides, with teams working tirelessly to reach people trapped in collapsed buildings.
In response to the rain forecasts, educational institutions including schools, colleges, and tuition centers in Thrissur, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod have been closed today, August 2. The Kerala Meteorological Department has issued an ‘orange’ alert for Wayanad district, forecasting continued heavy rains until Saturday. Normal life in Thrissur is severely affected by waterlogging, and many schools have been repurposed as relief camps. The Meteorological Department predicts that heavy rains will persist in Kerala until August 5.
Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra visited the landslide-affected areas in Wayanad and expressed their condolences. Rahul Gandhi described the situation as a “terrible tragedy” and stressed the need for significant relief efforts. Kerala Health Minister Veena George confirmed that the death toll has now reached 308 and warned that the number may rise as more people remain missing.