The Kerala police have asked people to refrain from dark tourism in Wayanad, at a time when the authorities are striving to rescue those affected by landslides and floods in the district. 'Do not head to tragedy-hit spots for sightseeing. It will affect rescue operations. For help, please call 112,' read the message posted on the Instagram handle of Kerala police. As the rain continues in the spots that experienced landslides, authorities fear more such events can happen. The Wayanad high-range region is on red alert on Tuesday.
Time and again, Kerala has witnessed the trend of people heading to spots affected by accidents, tragedies or crimes to see the place first-hand. The crowds have also affected the duty of rescue and police personnel, time and again. A midnight cloudburst resulted in several losing their lives, houses washing away and people getting trapped under debris. The first landslide struck Meppani, Mundakkai Town and Chooral Mala at midnight. Around 400 families have been stranded in the region as a nearby bridge, which was the only access to Attamala in Mundakkai, has also collapsed.
Important contact numbers
Health Department control room numbers: 8086010833, 9656938689.
Toll-free number - 1077
District Emergency Operations Centre - 04936204151, 9562804151, 8078409770
Sulthan Bathery Taluk Emergency Operations Centre ( TEOC) - 04936223355, 6238461385
Manathavady TEOC - 04935241111, 9446637748
Vythiri TEOC - 04936256100, 8590842965, 9447097705