2024 Wayanad landslides
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Tuesday, July 30, 2024
The Wayanad region of Kerala experienced torrential rains, accumulating 572 mm of rainfall in 48 hours - 200 mm of rainfall in the first 24 hours and a massive 372 mm in the next 24 hours prior to the event.[1] Due to the heavy rainfall, residents of Punjirimattom, Attamala, and Mundakkai were relocated to relief camps by local authorities starting on 29 July 2029. Despite an alert issued by the district administration, many residents in the Chooralmala area chose to remain in their homes, as the area was not classified as landslide-prone.[2] However, around 02:17 IST, a landslide struck near the origin of the Iruvanjippuzha river, between the villages of Punjirimattom and Mundakkai, sweeping away both villages.[3][4] This was followed by a second landslide at approximately 04:10 IST in nearby Chooralmala, which diverted the Iruvanjippuzha river, causing flash floods that washed away the entire Chooralmala village. The collapse of the only bridge connecting the settlements, left approximately 400 families stranded in Mundakkai and Attamala.[4]
According to the First Information Report (FIR) on the Wayanad landslides, prepared by the Geological Survey of India, the velocity of the debris flow was 57 meters per seconds, about five times greater than that of the "extremely rapid" category. The debris flow originated as a debris slide at an elevation of 1544 meters, then followed the river's path, carrying tons of rock and soil mixed with water, forming a slurry that devastated everything in its path.[5] The National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), a subsidiary of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), analyzed satellite imagery and released findings on 1 August 2024. The images revealed that approximately 86,000 m2 of land had moved down the hill.[6]
Sources
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- ↑ "Massive torrential rains" — 30 July 2024
- ↑ Manoj, E. M. (30 July 2024). "Wayanad landslide Hope and desperation as families wait for kith and kin". Archived from the original on 2 August 2024. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/wayanad-landslide-hope-and-desperation-as-families-wait-for-kith-and-kin/article68465842.ece.
- ↑ "Only 10 houses remain at Punjirimattom, the epicenter of landslide in Wayanad" — 2 August 2024
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Wayanad landslides: 133 dead, 481 saved, at least 98 missing" — 30 July 2024
- ↑ "First information report" — 30 July 2024
- ↑ "Torrential Rains study by ISRO". Times Of India. Archived from the original on 2 August 2024. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/etimes/trending/isro-releases-before-and-after-images-of-the-devastating-wayanad-landslides/articleshow/112217200.cms. "ISRO has released high-resolution satellite images showing the devastating impact of the July 30, 2024, landslides in Wayanad, Kerala. Captured by Cartosat-3 and RISAT satellites, the images reveal 86,000 m2 of land slipping, altering the Iruvaiphuzha river’s course and damaging infrastructure. The landslides, triggered by heavy rainfall, have claimed 167 lives. The images emphasize the need for better disaster management and sustainable development to protect vulnerable regions."