2 years after Wayanad tragedy, new landslide reopens old wounds for survivors

Two years after the devastating Chooralmala-Mundakkai landslide that claimed hundreds of lives and permanently altered Wayanad's landscape, another landslide in nearby Kalladi has reopened old wounds for survivors still struggling to rebuild their lives.

Although the latest landslide was far smaller in scale than the catastrophic disaster of July 2024, its psychological impact on the region has been significant. For families who lost loved ones, homes and entire neighbourhoods in the earlier tragedy, the sight of earth crashing down the hillsides has revived memories of a nightmare they have been trying to overcome.

The district had only begun recovering from one of the worst natural disasters in Kerala's history when the Kalladi landslide occurred near the construction site of the Kozhikode-Wayanad twin-tube tunnel project, which is intended to provide an alternative to the Thamarassery Ghat road. The incident has reignited concerns over safety, rehabilitation efforts and the future of major infrastructure projects in the ecologically sensitive region.

The landslide has also renewed debate over the proposed tunnel road project. While many residents continue to support the long-pending initiative for its potential to improve connectivity to Wayanad, several have stressed that development must not come at the expense of safety. The state government has said that all construction activities linked to the project will remain suspended until a detailed investigation into the landslide is completed.

Amid growing anxiety in the region, India Today revisited survivors of the 2024 disaster to understand where they stand today and how life has changed in the two years since the tragedy.

REBUILDING LIFE AMID LOSS

At the government's model rehabilitation township, a large housing project being developed for landslide survivors, signs of recovery are gradually beginning to emerge.

The township project, launched by the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government, has completed 178 houses in its first phase. The keys were handed over to beneficiaries in March this year, while construction of additional homes is progressing in subsequent phases.

Several families have already shifted to the township, including Aneesh and Sayana, whose story became one of the most heartbreaking symbols of the 2024 tragedy.

The couple lost all three of their sons when the landslide buried their home. They also lost Aneesh's mother and a nephew that night. Both Aneesh and Sayana survived but spent several days in intensive care before recovering.

Today, they are trying to rebuild their lives in a new house at the township. Yet the past remains ever-present.

They have named their home "Three Brothers in Arms" in memory of their sons. Photographs of the children and Aneesh's mother adorn the walls, ensuring that those they lost remain part of their daily lives.

Inside the house, the couple has created a dedicated corner to preserve their children's belongings, toys and personal items. Each object carries a story. As Sayana walked through the room, she recalled memories attached to every photograph and keepsake.

But healing remains a slow process.

"It is concerning when we hear of another landslide," Aneesh said. "Our Wayanad is a beautiful place that can make anyone fall in love with it. It is painful to see the region getting destroyed repeatedly."

He said he and his wife spend much of their time at "Hridayabhoomi", the memorial site where their children are buried and where their old home once stood.

For Sayana, the emotional scars run equally deep.

"We were very close to our neighbours. Many of our loved ones lived around us. None of them are with us today," she said.

Though they now know many families living in the township, she says the absence of those who perished is felt every day.

Recalling the recent Kalladi landslide, Sayana said she watched videos of the incident with a sense of dread.

"What I pray every day is that what happened to us should never happen to anyone else. I felt very sad when I saw those visuals," she said.

Both say reports of landslides and heavy rains continue to trigger anxiety and painful memories of the night that changed their lives forever.

WAITING FOR REHABILITATION

Not all survivors have been able to move into the township.

A short distance away, in government quarters being used as temporary accommodation, Rasheed and Serena continue to wait for their allotment.

Like many others, they were displaced by the 2024 disaster and have spent the last two years hoping for a permanent home.

According to the couple, delays in construction have become a major concern.

"They have not allotted houses to us yet," Rasheed said. "We are waiting to move to the township as soon as possible because the condition of this house is poor."

He alleged that repeated administrative changes and a shortage of workers have slowed the rehabilitation project.

"There were changes in officers overseeing the work and there are fewer labourers now. The minister has said we may shift by September, but we don't think that is possible. At the current pace, it may take until next January," he said.

Rasheed also described the Kalladi landslide as a "man-made disaster" and questioned whether adequate precautions had been taken despite warnings about mud accumulation in the area.

Serena echoed the frustration.

"We still don't know which house will be allotted to us. It has already been two years and shifting to the township will be a huge relief," she said.

She said her 15-year-old daughter, now studying in Class 10, is deeply affected by both the tragedy and the prolonged uncertainty.

"The condition of this house scares her. None of her friends are here anymore and she is mentally disturbed. Counsellors have told us that moving to the township may help her feel better," Serena said.

She added that every report of a fresh landslide causes renewed fear among survivors.

"When incidents like this happen again, we are shocked and worried that something else may happen."

CONCERNS OVER DELAYS

The rehabilitation project has also come under scrutiny over delays in execution.

Residents and local stakeholders have criticised the transfer and replacement of several officials associated with the rehabilitation programme, including officers overseeing key aspects of the housing project.

Locals say construction activity has slowed considerably in recent months, with some sections of the township witnessing little progress for weeks at a time.

For families still waiting to move into permanent homes, the delays have become increasingly difficult to bear.

As Wayanad enters another monsoon season, survivors say even the sight of heavy rain is enough to revive memories of the disaster that devastated their lives.

For many, the new landslide in Kalladi was not just another incident. It was a reminder that while homes can be rebuilt, fear lingers much longer.

Two years after the tragedy, Wayanad continues its long journey towards recovery, balancing rehabilitation, development and the urgent need to ensure that such disasters never strike the region again.

- Ends