The recent landslide in Wayanad has left a trail of devastation and sorrow, especially for the relatives of the victims from Karnataka. Among the many heart-wrenching stories is that of Mahadev, a resident of Ukkalagere in T. Narsipur taluk, Mysuru district, who lost nine family members in the tragedy.
“All my nine relatives had climbed up to the first floor of their house as the water rushed in,” Mahadev recounted over the phone. “But the hill behind their home gave way, and they were swept away with the debris.” These victims, including three families of three members each, had all been residing on five cent plots of land in Chooralmala, where they worked in the nearby tea estates. Mahadevamma, a 70-year-old aunt, lived part-time with her sons and their families and part-time with her daughter, Rathna, a widow. While Mahadevamma and Rathna survived, Mahadev described their plight as agonising, revealing that they had identified and cremated only three bodies so far, with six more still missing.
Narrow Escapes and Unbearable Tasks
Vinod, a therapist from Gundlupet in Chamarajanagar district, had a narrow escape. “My friends, who were alive two days ago, are no more now,” he said, struggling to hold back tears. “I am left with the task of identifying their bodies.” Vinod and his relatives were saved by a narrow window of opportunity when they ventured outside to tend to their cow. Had they stayed indoors, they would likely have perished. Their escape was marked by three landslides between 1 am and 4 am on Tuesday. “We ran to the higher part of the hill,” Vinod explained. “We never thought we’d survive. We reached the relief camp in Meppadi only in the evening.”
A Devastating Scene at the Mortuary
Gundlupet Tahsildar Ramesh Babu, who participated in the rescue operations, described the scale of the disaster as unprecedented in his 30-year career. “I have never seen such devastation,” he said. “Bodies were being pulled out one after another from under the rubble. People were lining up at the mortuary, struggling to identify their loved ones. The injuries were so severe that it was difficult to recognise the victims.”
Among the identified victims were Rajendra (50) from Irasavadi village in Chamarajanagar taluk, Savithri (54) and Shivanna (50) from Ukkalagere in T. Narsipur taluk, and Leelavathi (55) and her grandson Nihal (2.5) from Kaththaragatta village in KR Pet taluk of Mandya district.
Efforts to Bring Closure
As of Thursday, the bodies of five more victims from Karnataka were identified. The deceased included Rajendra, Savithri, Shivanna, Leelavathi, and Nihal. The Mandya district administration arranged for the return of Leelavathi and Nihal’s bodies to Mandya. The other victims were cremated in a mass ceremony at Meppadi, Kerala.
The aftermath of this catastrophic landslide has not only left families in mourning but has also presented an enormous challenge to rescue and recovery teams grappling with the scale of the disaster. The stories of survival and loss underscore the profound impact of this tragedy on the affected families and communities.