Major landslides have struck Meppadi, Wayanad district of Kerla in the early hours of Tuesday at least killing 19 people and more than 50 people were hospitalized.The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) has taken swift action by mobilizing Fireforce and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams to the affected area, where hundreds are feared trapped. Additionally, another NDRF team and two teams from the Kannur Defence Security Corps are en route to provide further assistance.

The first landslide occurred in Mundakkai Town at around 1 am during heavy rain. While the rescue operations were ongoing, a second landslide struck near Chooral Mala School at around 4 am. The school, functioning as a camp, and nearby houses and shops were flooded with water and mud.

Reports indicate that approximately 400 families have been stranded in the region after the bridge in Chooral Mala Town collapsed. This bridge was the sole access route to Attamala in Mundakkai, and its collapse has significantly hindered rescue efforts. Numerous injuries have been reported, and several vehicles have been swept away. The full scale of the damage is still unclear due to the power outage in the area.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his deep concern over the land slides he wrote in social media platform X :-
Additionally, he announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs. 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the families of each deceased individual and Rs. 50,000 for those injured. Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition and former Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi also conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, saying, “I hope those still trapped are brought to safety soon. I have requested them to ensure coordination with all agencies, set up a control room, and inform us of any assistance needed for the relief efforts.”