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Indian Express
a day ago
- General
- Indian Express
First anniversary of landslides that killed 298: At Wayanad ground zero, tears & memories
With muffled cries and tears running down their cheeks, they stood in front of a collage of photos of 298 persons who were killed in the landslide of July 30 last year. They saw the pictures of their lost husbands, wives, parents, children, neighbours and co-workers, who had gone to bed on the night of last July 29, but got wiped out along with debris before the next day break. As Wednesday marked the first anniversary of the tragedy, survivors and relatives of the victims broke down before the collage, which was put up near the mass burial ground at Puthumala near here. One of the biggest natural disasters in the country, the Wayanad landslide, which hit villages of Mundakkai, Chooralmala and Attamala in Meppadi panchayat, had claimed 298 lives. Of them, 44 missing had been declared dead. As many as seven children lost both their parents and 14 others lost one of their parents. Besides, 17 families, with 65 members, have been wiped out in the disaster. Right from the morning, survivors of the landslide, who live in various parts of Wayanad after the tragedy, flocked to the burial ground, which has been named 'July 30 heartland', where 56 unidentified bodies and 213 body parts were buried. The emotionally-charged air culminated with an all-religion prayer and guard of honour from the Kerala Police as a mark of respect to those fallen to the fury of nature. Ministers, people's representatives and officials attended the function. Saheesh, who had a miraculous escape in the tragedy, came to pray for his close friends and their families. 'My daughter Jamshira was seriously injured, but she does not have the courage to turn up for the memorial programme. She is yet to recover from the mental trauma. My nine neighbours died and I have to pray for them,'' said Saheesh, who lives on a rented premise outside the tragedy zone. Pointing to three tomb stones marked with the house name 'Kallingal', estate worker M Saji said he had lost eight from his extended family. 'My wife Ushadevi's sister and her family…,'' he said as he placed burning sandal sticks near the tomb stones one after another. Ten-year-old Avanthika, one of the seven children who lost both their parents, came with the family of her paternal uncle, to pay tributes to the departed. 'Avanthika was injured. She came to know that her parents and eldest brother are no more only three months after the tragedy. She did not believe. Later, we came to this burial ground to convince her. However, she often insists on seeing her parents and it has been a traumatic year for us,'' said her uncle, Pradeepan. Aritha Satheesh, who lost her son and eight others in her extended family, said: 'I am serving food at an orphanage today. In the afternoon, I will visit my abandoned house at Chooralmala. After the death of my son and close family members who lived nearby, I had never gone to the village.'' After a memorial event at the burial ground at Puthumala, many of the survivors visited Chooralmala, Mundakkai and Attamala, the villages they had fled on that fateful night. An expatriate for 30 years, Shoukath, 52, found that time had come to a standstill at his village, Mundakkai. 'My house and one acre of cardamom plantation were washed out. Weeds have grown over the place where my house stood. I will get a house in the rehabilitation scheme, but I have to start from scratch. I had lost 26 of my relatives,'' he said. Meanwhile, Revenue Minister K Rajan said that the state government will provide houses to 49 more people, bringing the total number of families included in the township for rehabilitating the survivors to 451. Traders and owners of buildings will be given compensation. The state has got `700 crore in the distress relief fund for the landslide victims. The entire amount will be spent for rehabilitation, he said. A model house at the township, coming up at Kalpetta municipality, was completed on Wednesday.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- The Hindu
July 30: a cup of memories, a dash of hope
The name 'July 30' on Noufal Kalathingal's cafe signboard at Mepadi town is more than just a date. It echoes both pain and purpose for him. It is a symbol of his resilience in the face of unimaginable loss. It is a tribute to the loved ones he lost in the Wayanad landslide disaster. When nature ravaged Mundakkai and Chooralmala on the night of July 30, 2024, Mr. Noufal was thousands of miles away, working as a chef in Oman. Just minutes before the disaster, he had shared a tender WhatsApp video call with his wife Sajna and their three children. He never heard from them since. Mr. Noufal lost 11 members of his family: wife and three children, his parents, his brother, sister-in-law and their three children. The scene that awaited him in Wayanad on July 31 was one of unrecognizable devastation. 'I had some hope until I reached Wayanad. My parents' bodies were recovered and buried the day before. It was the familiar sparkle of an earring that confirmed the unbearable truth: my daughter,' Mr. Noufal's words broke. It took Mr. Noufal nearly three months to confirm the identities of his other family members, including his wife Sajna, through DNA testing. With a heavy heart, he revealed the grim reality: 'My wife's remains are scattered in two graves. The same fate befell my children and brother.' The devastating landslide had dismembered bodies beyond recognition, leading to piecemeal burials before DNA results later revealed the true identities. His wife's dream was for Mr. Noufal to return home and start a cafe, a plan he was actively working on. 'I was saving up to make her dream a reality,' he said. Though Sajna is not there to witness it, her presence lives on in every cup of coffee he serves. 'I named my cafe 'July 30' to ensure that the Mundakkai-Chooralmala tragedy is not forgotten, unlike the 2019 Puthumala disaster that is already slipping from memory,' he said. Shared sorrow The Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen (KNM) helped him set up the cafe in a rented building. He employs six workers who lost their livelihoods in the tragedy. More than coffee and snacks, the menu reflects the region's flavours: biryani, mandi, porotta and beef fry. 'This cafe is not about profits, it is about preserving memories and supporting those who lost their livelihood,' he said. Mr. Noufal's resilience is an inspiration to many survivors. Last month, he married Safna, 37. They are now preparing to move into a house donated by KMCC Muscat wing. Mr. Noufal's journey of healing and rebuilding enters a new chapter.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Hindustan Times
One year after disaster, Wayanad shows the world lessons in survival, human love
Wayanad , Last year, the morning of July 29 was as normal as any other day for the people of Chooralmala and Mundakkai in this hill district. One year after disaster, Wayanad shows the world lessons in survival, human love Apart from the pouring rain, it was business as usual in this stunningly beautiful hillside, a highly sought-after tourist destination. Everything changed in a flash the next day, on July 30, and the once-favourite tourist spot became an open grave overnight. One year after the most severe natural calamity Kerala had ever witnessed, Mundakkai and Chooralmala remain ghost towns, with only a few houses intact. There are no people here, except for a tribal family of three, who still live in the area. Though the wounds of this disaster which claimed 298 lives and wiped out everything that stood on the ground seem unlikely ever to heal, Mundakkai and Chooralmala also tell remarkable stories of survival, resilience, and Kerala's unity in the face of an unprecedented disaster. With work on a township envisaged by the state government for the rehabilitation of landslide survivors progressing and with many complaints and political accusations being raised against it some stories of the survivors offer hope and reflect the resilience of the people of Wayanad in moving forward with their lives. Naufal, who lost 11 members of his family in the landslide, is one of many examples from disaster‑torn Chooralmala. Having lost everyone in his family, he has now started a hotel in Meppadi, aptly naming it 'July 30' in memory of the day he lost all his loved ones. Naufal was abroad at work when the disaster struck, wiping away everything he had his family, his house, and the land he owned in Mundakkai. He could not return to his workplace, as it was too much for him to overcome the trauma and leave the place where his family members were buried alive. "My family always wished that I would start a hotel in our area. Now, with the help of good Samaritans, I have managed to open a small hotel to fulfil their wish," Naufal told PTI Videos. A similar story is that of five children who were orphaned in the disaster and are now gradually returning to normal life, pursuing their education under the Kinship Foster Care Programme, which allows close relatives to care for these children with government support. Child welfare officers who frequently visit them say the children often recall their parents, with the trauma yet to fully leave them. However, they are becoming accustomed to their new caretakers and are happy at their schools. In the immediate aftermath of the disaster, there were hundreds of requests to adopt these orphaned children. However, the government decided not to place them for adoption, instead enrolling them in the Kinship Foster Care Programme so they could remain with familiar caretakers their close relatives. Though many stories of survivors are inspiring, some reveal the cruel effects of disasters on human lives. Before the disaster struck, Mundakkai and Chooralmala had a reasonably settled, financially sound community. The people here, who once held decent land holdings, lost everything and are now unable to reclaim their land for construction, as the government permits only farming activities. This has turned many from wealthy to penniless in a single day. The story of Annayan is one such example. Once earning an annual income of about ₹25 lakh from his two‑acre farmland and the rent from buildings he owned, he now works as an autorickshaw driver for a meagre wage of ₹200 a day. He blames the revenue authorities for his present plight, alleging that all his attempts to reclaim his land for cultivation have failed. "Either let me farm on my land and live, or acquire my land and give me compensation," is Annayan's request to the government. Annayan had worked as a farm supervisor in a private estate before leaving his job to focus on his coffee farming and other businesses. However, everything he owned was wiped out on July 30 last year in the devastating landslide. Annayan says he has repeatedly approached the revenue authorities, requesting permission to remove the fallen trees and restart cultivation, but no such permission has been granted. He now lives in a rented house in Meppadi and, seeing his struggles, some kind-hearted individuals have donated an autorickshaw to him. However, Annayan was granted a permit to operate the auto only in Kalpetta town, 12 kilometres away from his residence. One year on, Annayan still vividly remembers the terrifying moments when he awoke to a loud noise. "I woke up at 1.30 am to a loud noise. We first thought it was a wild elephant. But then, suddenly, water began gushing in, breaking the sugarcane fence I had. Around 3.30 am, we heard loud cries, and we realised many houses around us had been wiped out. "My house was washed away in the second landslide. Eighty bodies were recovered from my land alone. Among the farmers in this locality, three others and I were the most affected," Annayan recalls. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
News18
3 days ago
- News18
One year after disaster, Wayanad shows the world lessons in survival, human love
Wayanad (Kerala), Jul 29 (PTI) Last year, the morning of July 29 was as normal as any other day for the people of Chooralmala and Mundakkai in this hill district. Apart from the pouring rain, it was business as usual in this stunningly beautiful hillside, a highly sought-after tourist destination. Everything changed in a flash the next day, on July 30, and the once-favourite tourist spot became an open grave overnight. One year after the most severe natural calamity Kerala had ever witnessed, Mundakkai and Chooralmala remain ghost towns, with only a few houses intact. There are no people here, except for a tribal family of three, who still live in the area. Though the wounds of this disaster — which claimed 298 lives and wiped out everything that stood on the ground — seem unlikely ever to heal, Mundakkai and Chooralmala also tell remarkable stories of survival, resilience, and Kerala's unity in the face of an unprecedented disaster. With work on a township envisaged by the state government for the rehabilitation of landslide survivors progressing– and with many complaints and political accusations being raised against it — some stories of the survivors offer hope and reflect the resilience of the people of Wayanad in moving forward with their lives. Naufal, who lost 11 members of his family in the landslide, is one of many examples from disaster‑torn Chooralmala. Having lost everyone in his family, he has now started a hotel in Meppadi, aptly naming it 'July 30' in memory of the day he lost all his loved ones. Naufal was abroad at work when the disaster struck, wiping away everything he had– his family, his house, and the land he owned in Mundakkai. He could not return to his workplace, as it was too much for him to overcome the trauma and leave the place where his family members were buried alive. 'My family always wished that I would start a hotel in our area. Now, with the help of good Samaritans, I have managed to open a small hotel to fulfil their wish," Naufal told PTI Videos. A similar story is that of five children who were orphaned in the disaster and are now gradually returning to normal life, pursuing their education under the Kinship Foster Care Programme, which allows close relatives to care for these children with government support. Child welfare officers who frequently visit them say the children often recall their parents, with the trauma yet to fully leave them. However, they are becoming accustomed to their new caretakers and are happy at their schools. In the immediate aftermath of the disaster, there were hundreds of requests to adopt these orphaned children. However, the government decided not to place them for adoption, instead enrolling them in the Kinship Foster Care Programme so they could remain with familiar caretakers — their close relatives. Though many stories of survivors are inspiring, some reveal the cruel effects of disasters on human lives. Before the disaster struck, Mundakkai and Chooralmala had a reasonably settled, financially sound community. The people here, who once held decent land holdings, lost everything and are now unable to reclaim their land for construction, as the government permits only farming activities. This has turned many from wealthy to penniless in a single day. The story of Annayan is one such example. Once earning an annual income of about Rs 25 lakh from his two‑acre farmland and the rent from buildings he owned, he now works as an autorickshaw driver for a meagre wage of Rs 200 a day. He blames the revenue authorities for his present plight, alleging that all his attempts to reclaim his land for cultivation have failed. 'Either let me farm on my land and live, or acquire my land and give me compensation," is Annayan's request to the government. Annayan had worked as a farm supervisor in a private estate before leaving his job to focus on his coffee farming and other businesses. However, everything he owned was wiped out on July 30 last year in the devastating landslide. Annayan says he has repeatedly approached the revenue authorities, requesting permission to remove the fallen trees and restart cultivation, but no such permission has been granted. He now lives in a rented house in Meppadi and, seeing his struggles, some kind-hearted individuals have donated an autorickshaw to him. However, Annayan was granted a permit to operate the auto only in Kalpetta town, 12 kilometres away from his residence. One year on, Annayan still vividly remembers the terrifying moments when he awoke to a loud noise. 'I woke up at 1.30 am to a loud noise. We first thought it was a wild elephant. But then, suddenly, water began gushing in, breaking the sugarcane fence I had. Around 3.30 am, we heard loud cries, and we realised many houses around us had been wiped out. 'My house was washed away in the second landslide. Eighty bodies were recovered from my land alone. Among the farmers in this locality, three others and I were the most affected," Annayan recalls. PTI KPK TGB ADB (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: July 29, 2025, 13:30 IST News agency-feeds One year after disaster, Wayanad shows the world lessons in survival, human love Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
6 days ago
- General
- News18
Wayanad Man Lost 11 Family Members In Landslide. Now, He Runs A Restaurant Named ‘July 30'
Kalathingal Noufal lost 11 family members in the Wayanad landslides on July 30, 2024. A year later, he rebuilt his life, opened a restaurant named 'July 30'. The catastrophic landslides that struck Kerala's Wayanad on July 30, 2024, wiped out 11 members of Kalathingal Noufal's family including his wife and three children. The accident was life-changing for him. Now a year later, his story is one of grit, determination and massive support. Despite suffering such a huge loss, Naufal did not give up. He pulled himself together and decided to rebuild his life. Today, the 43-year-old has found a new partner, started a restaurant — named 'July 30' — and got a new house, reported Indian Express. Naufal was living in Mundakkai, the village in Wayanad that was totally wiped out in the landslides that claimed 298 lives, washed away houses and buildings. Indian Express. He then decided to move his life forward and fulfil the dream of his late wife, Sajna, to settle in Kerala by starting a restaurant. Initially, he was living in a temporary house. He also refused to meet counselors, as he felt that reliving the past every time would only increase his pain. He tried to heal his wounds on his own. During that time, Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen (KNM), a Muslim socio-religious organisation, gave him a financial aid of Rs 7 lakh. Deciding to carry forward the wife's dream, he started a restaurant-cum-bakery, which he named 'July 30' in memory of the day that upended his life. 'When I named the restaurant 'July 30', many people criticised me. But everyone who goes to the affected areas should recall that day, the tragedy and the loss. That will make people humble and bring them closer to God," he told the news outlet. Later, the Oman-based Kerala Muslim Cultural Center (KMCC) bought land for him and built a new house, the keys of which were handed over to him recently. After this, Naufal also married Safna, making a new beginning. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
