Mass Burial Ceremony Held for Landslide Victims in Wayanad, Kerala
A week after the massive landslides, the Wayanad district administration organized a mass burial ceremony for the unidentified victims in the Puthumala region. The event, which started at around 3 pm, included prayers from all religions.
Kerala Minister K N Balagopal stated, “We cannot give an exact number of missing body parts… There is a mass burial going on for unidentified bodies.”
Puthumala, a village near Chooralmala, experienced a similar landslide in 2019. Rescue and relief operations in Wayanad have been ongoing for seven days. As of August 2, the death toll stands at 308, with 220 bodies recovered and 180 people still missing.
A total of 53 relief camps have been set up, housing 6,759 people, including 1,983 families, 2,501 males, 2,677 females, 1,581 children, and 20 pregnant women. In Meppadi and other gram panchayats, 16 camps have been established, sheltering 2,514 people, including 723 families, 943 males, 972 females, 599 children, and six pregnant women.
Additional rescue camps are located at SDMLP school, D-Paul public school at Kalpetta, RCLP school at Chundel, GHS school near Rippon, WMO college at Muttil, Rippon new building, and Arappatta.
The landslides, which struck Chooralmala and Mundakkai on July 30, caused significant devastation. Late on Sunday night, the district administration conducted the mass burial of the unidentified victims’ remains, following Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s directive to include interfaith prayers.
Doubts Revealed
Mass Burial Ceremony -: A mass burial ceremony is when many people who have died are buried together at the same time, often because they couldn’t be identified or there are too many to bury individually.
Landslides -: Landslides happen when a lot of earth, rocks, and debris slide down a slope, often caused by heavy rain or earthquakes. They can be very dangerous and cause a lot of damage.
Wayanad -: Wayanad is a district in the state of Kerala, India. It is known for its beautiful hills and forests.
Kerala -: Kerala is a state in the southern part of India. It is known for its backwaters, beaches, and rich culture.
Interfaith prayers -: Interfaith prayers are prayers that include people from different religions. It shows respect and unity among different faiths.
District officials -: District officials are people who work for the government in a specific area, called a district. They help manage and take care of the district.
Kerala Minister K N Balagopal -: K N Balagopal is a politician and a minister in the Kerala government. Ministers are important people who help run the government.
Rescue operations -: Rescue operations are efforts made to save people who are in danger, like after a landslide. Rescuers look for survivors and help them get to safety.
Relief camps -: Relief camps are places where people who have lost their homes or are in danger can stay temporarily. They get food, shelter, and medical help there.