On Tuesday, a series of catastrophic landslides struck Meppadi panchayat in Wayanad, Kerala, causing widespread devastation. The first landslide occurred around 1 a.m., and Neethu Jojo, an executive at the Wayanad Institute of Medical Sciences (WIMS), was among the early victims. At around 1:30 a.m., Neethu made a distress call to WIMS, reporting water gushing into her home in Chooralmala village, one of the hardest-hit areas.
Despite the urgency, rescuers faced significant delays due to blocked roads covered in debris. By the time help arrived, a second landslide had already hit the area, burying Neethu and her home. On Saturday, her body was recovered from the mud and debris.
Neethu’s distress call, “We are in danger. There has been a landslide in Chooralmala. Water is gushing inside the house. Someone please come and save us,” was pivotal in alerting the authorities and dispatching the first rescue team. However, the road to Chooralmala was obstructed by uprooted trees and other debris, making the rescue operation challenging and slow.
As water continued to flood homes and more landslides occurred, the rescue team faced increasing difficulties. Neethu’s husband, Jojo Joseph, attempted to move his family and neighbors to higher ground. Despite his efforts, the second landslide, occurring around 4 a.m., unleashed massive boulders and caused further destruction, taking away a part of Neethu’s house where she was trapped.
Jojo managed to relocate his family and some villagers to safety, but Neethu was lost in the chaos. Her body was found days later, amid the ongoing rescue operations. Neethu worked at WIMS, which tragically lost four staff members in the disaster.
The promptness of Neethu’s initial call was crucial in mobilizing the rescue teams, though the severe conditions hindered their immediate response. The incident underscores the devastating impact of the landslides on Meppadi and the critical importance of timely and effective rescue operations in disaster situations.