All other parts of Chooralmala in the disaster-prone Wayanad district are considered safe for dwelling, but living should not be long-term in Punchirimattom, the site of recent landslides. It will be important for the relevant authorities to settle for indicative estimates of about Rs 300-350 crore for the restoration and rebuilding of the affected regions in the Siachen area,” noted John Matthai, a senior scientist at the National Centre for Geosciences, who visited the site along with his five-member team to assess the extent of the landslide disaster.
Matthai agreed with Chandrika that although much of Chooralmala is safe, it is still best not to approach the riverside of Punchirimattom. Mundakkai and Chooralmala in the Meppadi panchayat suffered severe landslides on July 30.
The team was appointed by the State Disaster Management Authority to assess Punchirimattom and nearby regions, including soil and rock samples, for assessment. Matthai described the seriousness of the situation because when large rocks and trees get loose in the centre of the slide, they get pushed forward and set off a ‘chain-reaction.
He stated that although rivers normally help regulate water, the recent landslides were due to steep changes in rainfall patterns in hilly districts such as Wayanad and Idukki. Earlier described as receiving steady and long rains, these districts are now characterised by short but intense rain-bearing systems that cause a quick build-up of water.
Similarly, the state’s Revenue Minister, K Rajan, said search operations are still continuing in the Nilambur area of the Malappuram district, where several bodies and body parts were found after the landslides. He was speaking to the media after a review meeting at the Malappuram Collectorate; he said that 118 people are as yet missing and the search is on in places where mud and rocks have formed ‘sand beds.
When people were helping in the recovery process, Rajan insisted that they should not go into the forest on their own for their own safety and enumerated possible risks. He encouraged anyone who wants a search to be conducted in forested zones to report to the district authorities to avoid cases whereby search and rescue teams are trapped.
Acknowledging the active participation of the community, Rajan mentioned that more than 5403 people are presently enrolled for functioning. To date, 231 bodies and 212 body parts have been found in the disaster-affected zone.
