Kerala Health Minister Veena George meets with accident en route to Wayanad, sustains minor injuries

Kerala Health Minister Veena George was injured in an accident on Wednesday morning. According to reports, the official vehicle she was travelling in lost control and hit an electric pole. The minister was en route to the landslide-hit Wayanad district. 

She reportedly sustained minor injuries in the accident. Police said, “The minister was taken to the government medical college in Manjeri,” reported PTI.

She is currently being treated at the Manjeri Medical College’s emergency department, reported News 18. 

The accident took place around 7:10 am when the minister's vehicle swerved to avoid colliding with a two-wheeler and hit an electric pole, PTI reported, citing a police statement.

Also read: Wayanad landslide death toll nears 100; CM says entire area has been wiped out, many feared trapped, swept away

Massive landslides hit the northern Kerala district of Wayanad early Tuesday following torrential rain that claimed the lives of around 132 people and left over 200 injured, PTI reported, citing official sources. The calamitous landslide destroyed more than 300 houses while the search operation is ongoing for over 180 missing people. The worst affected regions of the districts included Mundakkai and Chooralmala areas.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), in addition to the Army and Navy, has been deployed in the rescue efforts to help survivors and retrieve dead bodies.

A Defence spokesperson, in a social media post on X, said, “Heading into Day2 of #RescueOperations: #WayanadLandslides Soldiers of 122 Infantry Battalion of the Territorial Army preparing for the second day of rescue operations move out from their temporary shelter at local school to calamity hit areas in #Meppadi #Wayanad [sic].”

A Defence statement added, “Several companies of the army moved from Thiruvananthapuram and Bengaluru to Calicut by road and air,” reported PTI.

Also read: Wayanad landslides: Death toll climbs to 148, schools, colleges shut; orange alert issued in Kerala. 10 points to know

The residents were caught off-guard in disastrous landslides that occurred around 2:00 am and another around 4:10 am. 

Around 30 body parts were also recovered from Nilmabur and Meppadi, as per figures published last night by the Wayanad district administration. 

The picturesque hamlets of Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Noolpuzha are buried under debris.

(With PTI inputs)