Kerala Landslide: 250 Evacuated, 300 Rescuers Deployed
On Tuesday, a landslide hit the Meppadi area of Wayanad, Kerala. Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai announced that more than 250 people have been evacuated to safer locations and 300 personnel have been deployed for rescue operations.
Rescue Efforts
Speaking at the Rajya Sabha, Rai said, “Today morning, the Wayanad district of Kerala witnessed a tragic incident of a landslide… two people have been rescued from the debris and around 250 people have been evacuated to safer locations.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is closely monitoring the situation and has instructed Union Minister George Kurian to visit the site and assess the situation. The Home Minister has also assured the Kerala Chief Minister of all necessary resources from the central government.
Teams Deployed
Rai further mentioned that two teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), two columns of the Indian Army, and two Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters have been deployed for rescue operations. Additionally, a column of the Army’s Madras Engineering Group is preparing to construct three bailey bridges and will leave for the site by 4 PM. Three more NDRF teams and a dog squad are also on their way to assist in the rescue efforts.
However, bad weather has prevented the helicopters from landing, but efforts are ongoing. “Two helicopters have been deployed there but due to bad weather, they are unable to make a landing there… we are still trying our best…NDRF is on the ground and rescue operations are underway,” Rai said.
Doubts Revealed
Nityanand Rai -: Nityanand Rai is a Minister of State for Home Affairs in India. He helps in managing the country’s internal security and other related matters.
Kerala -: Kerala is a state in the southern part of India. It is known for its beautiful landscapes and backwaters.
Landslide -: A landslide is when a large amount of earth, rocks, and debris suddenly slide down a slope, often caused by heavy rain or earthquakes.
Evacuated -: Evacuated means moving people from a dangerous place to a safer one. In this case, people were moved because of the landslide.
Rescuers -: Rescuers are people who help save others from dangerous situations. They can be from different organizations like the army or special rescue teams.
Wayanad -: Wayanad is a district in Kerala, known for its hills and forests. It is a popular tourist destination.
Prime Minister Modi -: Prime Minister Modi is the current Prime Minister of India. He is the head of the government and makes important decisions for the country.
Union Minister George Kurian -: George Kurian is a Union Minister in the Indian government. He was sent to check the damage caused by the landslide.
NDRF -: NDRF stands for National Disaster Response Force. It is a special team in India that helps during natural disasters like floods and earthquakes.
Indian Army -: The Indian Army is the land-based branch of India’s military. They help protect the country and also assist in rescue operations during disasters.
IAF helicopters -: IAF stands for Indian Air Force. They use helicopters to help in rescue missions, especially in places that are hard to reach by road.
Bad weather -: Bad weather means conditions like heavy rain, strong winds, or storms that make it difficult to do things like flying helicopters.
