Wayanad's Cry for Safety: Families in 'No-Go' Zones Plead for Permanent Relocation After Devastating Landslides

The lush, green hills of Wayanad, Kerala, have, for years, harbored a silent terror for its residents. Following the horrific July 30th, 2024 landslide in Mundakkai, which tragically claimed 13 lives, families living in declared 'no-go' zones are raising a desperate cry for help. Their plea is simple yet profound: permanent relocation to safer ground, a sanctuary away from the ever-present threat of a new disaster.

Mundakkai, once a vibrant community, now stands as a stark reminder of nature's unpredictable fury.

The government has officially declared it an unsafe area, yet many families remain, trapped between an official warning and the lack of viable alternatives. The memory of the 2019 Puthumala landslide, which wiped out an entire village, casts a long, terrifying shadow over every monsoon season. Residents like Babu K.V., who lost his home and all his possessions in the recent Mundakkai tragedy, embody this fear.

"We have nothing left. How can we rebuild here when the very ground beneath us is unstable?" he laments, his voice heavy with despair.

The trauma is palpable. Ponnamma, an elderly resident, recounts the terror of waking up to the sound of collapsing earth, a sound that has now become a recurring nightmare for many.

She and her neighbors are living on the precipice, their lives on hold, perpetually bracing for the next downpour. Their homes, if they still stand, are cracked, damaged, and deemed unsafe by geologists. Yet, without a concrete rehabilitation plan, moving isn't an option for many.

Activists and local leaders are amplifying these voices, urging the state government to prioritize the lives of these vulnerable communities.

They demand not just temporary relief camps, but a comprehensive, permanent rehabilitation package that includes safe housing, access to livelihoods, and a future free from the constant dread of landslides. The people of Wayanad are not asking for much; they are simply asking for the right to live without fear, to have a safe place to call home.

Their lives hang in the balance, a stark reminder of the urgent need for decisive action to protect those living on the edge of disaster.