The devastating landslides in Wayanad on July 30 claimed over 373 lives, a figure reported last night. The tragedies in Mundakkai and Chooralmala highlighted numerous distress calls for help. While rescuers managed to save some, others, despite their desperate efforts, succumbed to the natural disaster.
One notable incident involved Neethu Jojo, a staff member at a private hospital in Wayanad. According to PTI, Neethu was possibly the first to alert emergency services about the disaster. Tragically, despite her efforts, she did not survive long enough for rescuers to reach her. A distress call she made, seeking help for herself and several families, recently went viral.
Neethu and others were trapped in her house after the initial landslide struck Chooralmala. Her recorded call vividly described the dire situation: water flooding the house, debris from the landslide, and cars swept away. She mentioned that five to six families had sought refuge at her place, which seemed safer than their own homes.
In her call to a staff member of Dr. Moopen’s Medical College, Neethu urgently pleaded, “There is a landslide at Chooralmala. I live behind the school here. Can you please send someone to help us?” The recipient of the call assured her that help was on the way. Dr. Shanavas Palliyal, DGM of Dr. Moopen’s Medical College, received one of her initial distress calls. He told PTI, “She sounded very distressed and was calling for help. I immediately informed the police, and our ambulance from the hospital left for Chooralmala. The road was blocked due to uprooted trees.”
Despite the immediate response, the situation worsened. After the first landslide, Neethu, along with other trapped neighbors, could not escape before the second wave hit. Communication with her was lost following this second landslide, as reported by Dr. Palliyal. Ambulances and first responders faced significant challenges, including the destruction of the Chooralmala bridge, which impeded their efforts.
Sadly, Neethu Jojo’s body was recovered days later. However, her husband Jojo, their child, and Jojo’s mother survived the landslide. Dr. Palliyal explained, “It looks like, after the first landslide, she and other neighbors got trapped in a room and were unable to escape before the next one.”
The landslide claimed the lives of four hospital staff members, including Neethu. The side of the house where they were trapped was destroyed. Authorities recovered three bodies from that region, while Neethu’s body was found elsewhere. The incident underscores the calamitous impact of the landslides and the heartbreaking stories of those who perished and survived.
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