Wayanad landslide survivors two years later still haunted by loss

On July 30, 2024, landslides struck the Mundakkai and Chooralmala areas of Wayanad district in Kerala, killing 298 people, flattening settlements and washing away homes. Survivors were relocated to a government‑built rehabilitation township in Kalpetta. Two years on, families gathered at a memorial ceremony, lighting lamps and placing flowers before photographs of the victims. Many said heavy rain or a rising river still triggers fear and sleepless nights. One survivor recounted losing his granddaughter Ahanya, while his pregnant daughter‑in‑law gave birth to a child who now provides the family's sole joy. Despite new houses, the trauma remains vivid, with residents fearing any future rains.