A glimmer of hope shone through the devastation of the Wayanad landslides in Kerala as a 40-day-old baby, Anara, and her six-year-old brother, Muhammed Hayan, miraculously survived the catastrophic event that obliterated their home on Tuesday. The heart-wrenching incident, reported by Onmanorama, unfolded as their family faced the unrelenting force of nature.
Anara and Muhammed Hayan managed to survive the disaster, while six of their family members were tragically swept away by the floods. Their mother, Tanzeera, exhibited extraordinary bravery as she clung to the terrace of a nearby house to save baby Anara. Despite being submerged in floodwaters, she held onto Anara’s arm, which sustained injuries during the ordeal. Six-year-old Hayan was carried 100 meters away by the surging waters but was found clinging to a wire near a well by rescue workers.
Tanzeera’s relief at being reunited with her two children was bittersweet, as she mourned the loss of her mother, Amina, and grandmother, Pathumma, who perished in the landslide.
The deadly landslides in Wayanad were triggered by relentless heavy rains between July 29 and 30, with the region recording an astonishing 572 mm of rain in just 24 hours. The subsequent flooding and river surges have claimed up to 308 lives, with rescue operations still ongoing. This calamity marks the most severe natural disaster to strike Kerala since the devastating floods of 2018, which resulted in the loss of over 500 lives.
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Climate scientists attribute the severity of these landslides to the warming of the Arabian Sea, environmentally damaging activities such as mining, and a significant loss of green cover, all contributing to the region’s heightened vulnerability.
In response to the landslides, the Indian armed forces, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and Coast Guard have been tirelessly working to clear debris, construct temporary bridges, and rescue stranded individuals.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced a compensation of ₹2 lakhs for the families of those who lost their lives in the landslides. Additionally, a Mental Health Disaster Management Team has been established by the state to provide crucial psychosocial support to the survivors.
Also Read: Wayanad Landslide: ISRO Releases Images Of Before & After The Disaster
