Rain in Kerala: The IMD has declared a “orange” alert for the Wayanad district through Saturday, coinciding with the announcement of the holiday.
Updates on the Wayanad landslides: Due to the likelihood of heavy rain, all educational facilities, including colleges, schools, and tutoring centers, in the districts of Thrissur, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasragod, will be closed on Friday, August 2.
The announcement of the holiday coincides with the Kerala Meteorological Department’s “orange” alert, which is in effect until Saturday in the Wayanad district, which has already seen severe landslides that have reportedly claimed over 290 lives.
According to Onmanorama, the Palakkad district collector has declared Friday a holiday for madrassas, schools, anganwadis, and tuition centers. It further stated that colleges and residential schools such as Navodaya are permitted to operate in Palakkad.
Top updates on Kerala rain and Wayanad landslides
- Since heavy rain, strong winds, and waterlogging have continued to disrupt daily life, Thrissur collector Arjun Pandian issued an order for a holiday in the district. Arjun Pandian claims that numerous schools in the district are serving as makeshift camps for the needy. All of these districts will, however, conduct exams and interviews in accordance with the schedule.
- Residential schools are prohibited from holding classes in Thrissur as well, according to Onmanorama.
- The district authorities in Idukki and Ernakulam districts have declared that the schools that have been converted into relief camps will not be open for classes on Friday.
- According to the India Meteorological Department, Kerala is expected to see intense rains through August 5.
- Three days after large-scale landslides devastated the hill district of Wayanad, rescuers in the area fought against the clock in hostile conditions to look for survivors buried beneath collapsed structures.
- At least 190 people have died as a result of the landslides, according to Kerala Revenue Minister K Rajan, despite some unverified reports claiming 290 deaths. The number of missing people is expected to increase, officials told news agency PTI.
- The Wayanad district administration reports that 76 women and 27 children are among the deceased. More than 225 more people have been hurt, the most of whom are in Mundakkai and Chooralmala, the worst-hit areas.
- A number of obstacles have made rescue operations more difficult, including the unstable terrain created by collapsed roads and bridges and the lack of heavy machinery, which makes it challenging for rescue workers to remove mud and large uprooted trees that have fallen on homes and other structures.
- Concurrently, the Indian Army has expeditiously finished building the Cl 24 Bailey Bridge. The Iruvanipzha River bridge that links Mundakkai and Chooralmala has been turned over to the Civil Administration and is now open for traffic.
- On Thursday, Congresswoman Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, paid a visit to the site of the landslide at Chooralmala, Wayanad. Speaking to the media, Rahul Gandhi stated that Wayanad had experienced a horrible tragedy and that much work still needed to be done.
