In a heartbreaking turn of events, a family from Kodagu has been devastated by the recent Meppadi landslide in Wayanad. Kavitha, a daily wage worker from Kodagu, had moved to Wayanad with her nine-year-old son, Rohith, seeking better job opportunities due to relentless rainfall in their home district. Kavitha, who was originally from Kodagu, had left her husband, Ravi, and their other children behind.
Ravi, a native of Tamil Nadu, explained that Kavitha had taken up a domestic job in Kozhikode, Kerala, after being unable to secure work in Kodagu. Her sister had helped her find this position, offering a salary of Rs 20,000 per month. Before starting her new job, Kavitha traveled to Meppadi with Rohith to visit her sister. She left Rohith at her sister’s home and went to work in Kozhikode.
Tragically, Kavitha’s father fell ill, prompting her sister to travel to Tamil Nadu for caregiving. Rohith was left with his uncle and cousin in Meppadi when the landslide struck. On Tuesday morning, Ravi learned from the news about the disaster and rushed to Kerala. Upon arrival, he was taken to the landslide site, where he had to identify Rohith among the victims.
The loss has left the family shattered. Ravi recounted the painful experience of identifying his son’s body, which had become unrecognizable. Unable to bring Rohith back to Kodagu, they had to hold his funeral in Meppadi. The family remains heartbroken, grappling with their grief and the irreparable loss of their academically gifted son.