On July 30, 2024, a massive landslide struck the Vellarimala hill ranges in Wayanad district, Kerala, causing fatalities and widespread destruction. Heavy rainfall triggered the landslide. Deforestation, land-use changes, improper drainage, and past landslides are contributing factors. Human activities like agriculture, construction, and quarrying have made the landscape more susceptible.
Experts have emphasised the need for implementing site-specific land-use policies, managing natural drainage, and setting up local landslide early warning systems (LEWs). Additionally, raising public awareness, involving the community, and employing advanced techniques like seismic noise imaging are considered crucial for understanding and mitigating landslide risks.
The landslide ravaged three villages—Mundakkai, Chooralmala, and Attamala—leaving hundreds of homes washed away in what is now considered the worst-hit part of Wayanad district. The region, known for its flourishing tea and cardamom plantations, has been severely affected, as many locals work in the plantations and reside in the valleys surrounding them. The natural disaster has dealt a blow not only to the local agricultural economy but also to the nascent tourism industry in the area.
Caught off guard by the disaster, locals are now struggling to come to terms with the aftermath. The prospects for the tea and cardamom plantations look grim, while the booming real estate business in this tourism-friendly district has come to a standstill. Many locals have lost everything, and their future is uncertain. Relief camps are providing temporary shelter for those displaced, but questions remain about long-term rehabilitation.
Relief camps, primarily run by Church institutions, have together housed over 2,000 people. Fr Sunny Abraham, the parish priest of St Joseph’s Church in Meppadi village near the affected area, is overseeing one of these camps. He expressed concern about the future of the displaced: “The camps have enough food and all other necessities. But the future challenges people. Where would they go from these camps?” he asked. The need for proper rehabilitation is urgent, as many of those in the camps have lost their homes and livelihoods.
“The feeling of being destitute is terrible. For them, having a place to call their own is paramount,” Fr Abraham added. The church’s auditorium has been converted into a temporary morgue to store dismembered and unidentified bodies, as there are insufficient facilities for the overwhelming number of dead. The lack of proper morgue facilities run by the civic authorities has compounded the tragedy.
The death toll continues to rise, with at least 420 confirmed dead and over 100 still missing, according to local media reports. Fr Abraham believes the actual number of fatalities may be higher, as many undocumented migrants from northern India worked in the plantations and may not have been accounted for. These workers were often overlooked by official records, making it difficult for authorities to provide an accurate count of the missing and dead.
The situation was even more heartbreaking as many families were unable to identify the bodies of their loved ones. Many bodies have been pulled from the massive amount of debris or fished out of the Chaliyar River, which runs through the region. The Chaliyar River, one of the least-polluted rivers in Kerala, originates from the Western Ghats and flows into the Arabian Sea, but now its waters are carrying the tragic remnants of the disaster.
Entire villages, like Chooralmala and Mundakkai, have been wiped off the map, with no trace of them left. Survivors describe the devastation as nothing short of apocalyptic. Families have been torn apart, with many losing multiple members. The survivors are now living with the trauma of the disaster, and the long-term psychological impact on the affected communities cannot be overstated.
Despite the overwhelming sense of loss, the disaster has united people from all walks of life. “The good part is that people just pitched in, irrespective of faith or religion. Everybody came together because this is a human tragedy,” said Fr Abraham. The church played a vital role in coordinating relief efforts, with the entire parish, particularly the youth and religious communities, actively involved. The first school in the area was converted into a refugee camp, and the church’s auditorium was used as a makeshift mortuary for unclaimed bodies.
When asked who was the first on the ground to help, Fr Abraham explained, “Everybody came in to help—the parish, the whole village. As soon as they heard the news, they rushed in to help in whatever way they could. They came to help because they saw the pain, and I think tragedy united people. The problem was that we did not have the equipment or tools required for a proper rescue operation.”
In the relief camps, there is currently no shortage of food and supplies, with aid pouring in from various places. However, Fr Abraham noted the heavy trauma that many of the survivors are experiencing. “People need guidance and counselling because they are in shock. Entire families were washed out. There are some single survivors, and there are people in the camps who have lost nine members in the tragedy. Very few people have survived intact.”
The local diocese, in collaboration with various government authorities and NGOs, has been working tirelessly to rehabilitate the villagers. Fr Abraham credited the Diocese of Calicut, led by Bishop Varghese Chakkalakal, for their coordinated efforts. Several political leaders have also shown up to offer their assistance, and private bodies are pitching in as well. However, the relief efforts are still in the early stages, and much more needs to be done to rebuild the lives of those affected.
Currently, nearly 2,500 victims are accommodated in relief camps in Wayanad, which is known for its tea and cardamom plantations. As the victims struggle to rebuild their lives, relief material continues to pour in, with NGOs like Goa-based Street Providence playing a critical role in the recovery process. The Street Providence Trust, which has been at the forefront of helping during crises, recently sent a truck loaded with 300 bedsheets, 300 mats, 300 towels, 2,000 organic sanitary pads, and various ration items to Wayanad. The NGO has a history of assisting during disasters across the country, including in Kerala, Maharashtra, Goa, Manipur, and Jharkhand.
Fr Abraham expressed immense gratitude for the support: “I am happy and immensely grateful for Street Providence from Goa, who arrived here all the way from Goa. They showed up with their help and sacrifice. They also said they would come back again. The diocese, the parish, and all of us are grateful for helping us. May God bless you.”
As the recovery process continues, there are still countless challenges ahead. The region’s education system has been heavily disrupted, with several schools destroyed in the landslide. The local church has offered two halls for Standard X classes, but there is no deadline for when schools will officially reopen. “Education is going to be a calamity here,” said Fr Abraham. “When life is lost, survival becomes the priority, and education will take a backseat.”
As the official death toll continues to climb, Fr Abraham and others involved in the relief efforts emphasize that the tragedy is far from over. The number of unclaimed bodies and body parts is still high, and many of the missing are feared dead. Authorities are still working to figure out the exact numbers, but the full scale of the disaster may never be fully known.
Despite the overwhelming tragedy, the disaster has highlighted the strength of human empathy and solidarity. “My answer is that the heart unites,” said Fr Abraham. “The good Lord said in the Gospel, ‘Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am in their midst.’ Perhaps they are united in the name of humanity.”
For Fr Abraham, the experience of witnessing such a tragedy so soon after joining the parish has been deeply challenging. “I came to this parish on July 10, and the tragedy happened on July 30. I believe in providence—the Lord has a plan. Maybe that’s why I was here, to help people in such a situation. It’s not easy; sometimes I break down, sobbing,” he admits. “Empathy is a very basic feeling- we just need to listen to our hearts. For us, this is all about faith, because whatever you do to the least of my brethren, you do unto me. In the Eucharist, we receive him and in the poor we receive, he receives us. The world is listening, and they are giving more than they can, he remarked.
The work of rebuilding the lives shattered by the landslide continues. The Church, along with various NGOs and government authorities, is at the forefront of the rehabilitation efforts. But the road ahead remains long, and the survivors, who have lost everything, will need sustained support to rebuild their homes, communities, and lives.