A total of 298 people lost their lives in the devastating landslides that struck Kerala’s Wayanad district last year, the government informed Parliament on Tuesday.
Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai, in a written response to the Lok Sabha, stated that while the central government does not maintain national records on deaths caused by disasters, the Kerala government confirmed that 298 people perished in the Wayanad landslides. Among them, 32 missing persons have been officially declared dead.
Relief and Financial Aid
In response to the disaster, the Centre approved ₹153.47 crore in relief assistance, based on an assessment report by an inter-ministerial central team. This amount includes provisions for expenses incurred in utilizing Indian Air Force helicopters for rescue and relief operations, as well as debris clearance.
Additionally, ₹388 crore has been allocated to the Kerala government under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for the financial year 2024-25. The first installment of ₹145.60 crore was released on July 31, 2024, followed by an advance second installment of the same amount on October 1, 2024.
According to Rai, Kerala’s Accountant General reported a balance of ₹394.99 crore in the SDRF account as of April 1, 2024. He assured that “sufficient funds” are available for ongoing relief operations.
Extent of Damage and Recovery Plan
The landslides, which struck on July 30, 2023, wiped out large portions of three villages in Wayanad—Punchirimattom, Chooralmala, and Mundakkai, along with parts of Attamala. The Kerala government conducted a Post-Disaster Need Assessment (PDNA) and estimated that ₹2,219 crore would be required for a comprehensive recovery and reconstruction plan.
Sources By Agencies
