Wayanad Landslide Disaster Relief Efforts
It was around 1 am in the early hours of July 30th when Brahmacharini Deekshitamrita Chaitanya opened her eyes and could not fall back asleep. She is stationed at our
Mananthavady Ashram in Kerala’s Wayanad district. It is a rural region known for its breathtaking forests and hills—a place where pre-historic tribal cultures still live in union with nature.
At the time, Bri Deekshitamrita didn’t know why she suddenly woke up. But shortly after, the devastating landslides began to hit other areas in the district. The village of Meppadi, where we have another Ashram, was one of the areas most devastated.
“By 6 am, my phone started ringing continuously with calls. The disaster occurred 12 kms away from the Meppadi Ashram. Initially, we were informed that a body was found, which didn’t convey the seriousness of the situation,” she explains.
“Later, we learned about several deaths and more bodies being found, which made us realise the extent of the disaster. Because it was a sudden calamity, those sleeping in their houses had no chance to call for help or even understand the situation.”
Disaster areas were sealed off by the Kerala government to protect survivors, however, members of AYUDH, our youth chapter, were permitted to assist rescue operations with the military and other systems. Many people were still trapped underground in the disaster area.
Our volunteers rushed to nearby Chooralmala—a location where about 86,000 square metres of land slipped out of place. They started helping recover the deceased, although no one was yet sure of the extent of the damage. They reported seeing several bodies, including those of children and described the situation as very distressing.