Expert Team Led by John Matthai to Inspect Landslide-Hit Wayanad
A five-member expert team led by senior scientist John Matthai from the National Centre for Geosciences will inspect the landslide-hit areas in Wayanad’s Meppadi panchayat on Tuesday. The team, appointed by the State Disaster Management Authority, will assess the risks and causes of the disaster and recommend suitable land uses for the area.
The team includes:
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Dr. TK Drishy | Principal Scientist and Head, Centre of Excellence in Water Related Disaster Management (CWRM) |
| Dr. Srivalsa Kolathayar | Associate Professor, Suratkal NIT |
| Tara Manoharan | District Soil Conservation Officer |
| P. Pradeep | Hazard and Risk Analyst, Kerala Disaster Management Authority |
Kerala Health Minister Veena George has directed the appointment of more psychiatry experts from medical colleges to support mental health in the affected areas. This is in addition to the existing psychiatrists and counsellors in the Department of Health. Activities include individual and group counselling, with 100-member mental health teams visiting 13 camps today alone. Group counselling was provided to 222 people, psychosocial intervention to 386 people, and pharmacotherapy to 18 people.
The health team has visited 1592 homes and ensured health care, with 12 health teams visiting 274 houses. Measures to prevent communicable diseases are being implemented, following infection control protocols. Officials from the Health, Women and Child Development Department will visit the camps to evaluate activities. AYUSH services are also being provided, and 91 DNA samples have been sent for testing.
Doubts Revealed
John Matthai -: John Matthai is a senior scientist who is leading the expert team to inspect the landslide-hit areas.
National Centre for Geosciences -: The National Centre for Geosciences is an organization that studies the Earth, including natural disasters like landslides.
Wayanad -: Wayanad is a district in the state of Kerala, India, known for its hills and forests.
Meppadi panchayat -: Meppadi panchayat is a local government area in Wayanad where the landslide happened.
Kerala Health Minister -: The Kerala Health Minister is a government official responsible for health-related matters in the state of Kerala.
Veena George -: Veena George is the current Health Minister of Kerala.
psychiatry experts -: Psychiatry experts are doctors who help people with mental health issues.
mental health -: Mental health refers to our emotional and psychological well-being.
camps -: Camps are temporary places where people stay when they can’t live in their homes due to disasters.
