Tragedy struck Kerala’s Wayanad district on Tuesday as a series of landslides hit the hilly areas near Meppadi, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. At least 151 bodies have been recovered so far, while 200 people have sustained injuries, with many of them getting treated in hospitals.
According to The Indian Express report, one survivor, Sudarshan, recounted the harrowing experience of waking up to the sound of gushing water and finding his house destroyed by logs of wood and rocks, with the ground floor submerged in slush. His jeep had crashed into the drawing room, breaking the door, leaving him stranded amidst the debris.
Also Read: Wayanad Tragedy: Indian Army steps in as landslides result in 93 deaths and 128 injuries
A driver, Sudarshan, and his neighbors in Wayanad’s Chooralmala had been anxiously awaiting the inevitable due to the relentless rain over the past few days. Their worst fears were realized as landslides struck the region, with the first one hitting Mundakkai town, just 3-4 km above their village.
As the disaster unfolded, Sudarshan’s primary concern was saving his mother, Bhavani, a cancer survivor. “My only thought at that moment was I was to save my mother. There was nowhere else to go. I couldn’t find my phone, couldn’t call anyone for help. Soon after we went up, the second landslide struck near the Chooralmala school, close to our house,” he said, as The Indian Express reported.
Soon, a second landslide struck near the Chooralmala school, close to their home. Panicked, Sudarshan saw their neighborhood being swept away by the river, which had suddenly risen to surround their house. He told his mother, “Our time in this world seems to be up. Our house could be the next’,” he said.
Also Read:Kerala asks Centre for Rs 24,000 crore special package for development
Despite the devastation around him, Sudarshan’s house miraculously survived the third landslide, although he witnessed immense destruction. Among those affected were his neighbors, with 11 members of a nearby family reported missing, and two bodies recovered so far. Sudarshan is currently taking refuge at his sister’s home in Pulpalli, 50 km north.
Rescuers managed to evacuate him and his mother, along with a few others, around 7 am. Sudarshan was able to help several neighbors as well, using a ladder to rescue around 21 people who had taken shelter on their rooftop after seeing him and his mother there. Sudarshan stated that he will not be returning to his home, deeming it uninhabitable. Moreover, he has lost his neighbors, his source of income (his jeep), and essential belongings, including his mother’s medications and prescriptions, The Indian Express learnt.
“We have to start from the beginning,” he said, acknowledging the immense challenges ahead. Despite this, Sudarshan expressed gratitude that they had escaped with their lives, and were able to continue living.