High resolution images taken by Indian satellites show the widespread damage and devastation caused by landslides in Kerala’s Wayanad. More than 150 people have died and over 200 injured even as the rescue works are ongoing. The before and after images show that about 86,000 square meters of land slipped and the debris flowed for about 8 kilometers along the Iruvaiphuzha river. 

Interestingly the Indian Space Research Organisation report also presents evidence of an old landslide at the same location, suggesting its vulnerability was documented.

The National Remote Sensing Center, Hyderabad a part of the Indian Space Research Organization deployed its highest resolution Cartosat-3 optical satellite and the RISAT satellite that is capable of seeing through cloud cover. The space agency says the landslide was initiated at an altitude of 1550 meters above the sea level.

The latest report accessed by NDTV, suggests that there is evidence of an old landslide at the same location. A 2023 ‘Landslide Atlas of India’ prepared by ISRO had placed Wayanad region as a vulnerable to landslides.

ISRO satellite images show widespread devastation at Wayanad landslide. Almost 86,000 square meters of land slipped causing the landslide almost five times the size of the Rashtrapati Bhawan. The debris flowed for almost 8 kilometers downstream washing away towns and settlements. 

ISRO says there is evidence of an old landslide at same location. The National Remote Sensing Center used the Cartosat-3 satellite and the RISAT satellite to see through cloud cover.

The NRSC reports says “a major debris flow was triggered by heavy rainfall in and around the Chooralmala town of Wayanad District in Kerala state of India”.

Very high resolution RISAT SAR images of 31 July, 2024 show the entire extent of the debris flow from crown to end of run out zone. The approximate length of the flow is 8 km. The crown zone is a reactivation of an older landslide. The size of the main scarp of the landslide in 86,000 square meters. The debris flow has widened the course of the Iruvaniphuza River causing breach of its banks. Houses and other infrastructures located along the banks have been damaged by the debris flow, 3D rendition of the crown of the landslide illustrates that a large section of the hill slope has been affected. 

The areal extent of the landslide is 86,000 square meters. The crown is located at an approximate elevation of approximately 1,550 m above MSL.

ISRO prepared a “Landslide Atlas of India” which diligently documents the 80,000 landslides that have occurred over 20 years and lists landslide from Puthumala, Wayanad district, and large parts of Kerala are marked red as being prone to landslides.

Dr S Somanath, the Chairman of ISRO in the 2023 report says it presents “the overall landslide scenario in India and … the field of landslide hazard. I am sure that the atlas will be beneficial to everyone involved in disaster management endeavors.”

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav took a dig at the BJP Thursday after videos showed the roof of the new Parliament building leaking due to heavy rain in Delhi, which has claimed nine lives so far and caused severe waterlogging in the city.

He shared a video of a courtyard of the new Parliament building, constructed at a cost of nearly Rs 1,000 crore. The video showed water leaking from a domed glass roof and into a blue bucket.

“The old Parliament building was better than this new. Why not go back to the old Parliament… at least till the time the water (stops) dripping in a parliament built with billions of rupees…”

Mr Yadav took a second swipe at the BJP, claiming “people are asking if water dripping from every new roof constructed under this government is a part of a well-thought out design or…”

इस नई संसद से अच्छी तो वो पुरानी संसद थी, जहाँ पुराने सांसद भी आकर मिल सकते थे। क्यों न फिर से पुरानी संसद चलें, कम-से-कम तब तक के लिए, जब तक अरबों रुपयों से बनी संसद में पानी टपकने का कार्यक्रम चल रहा है।

जनता पूछ रही है कि भाजपा सरकार में बनी हर नई छत से पानी टपकना, उनकी… pic.twitter.com/PpJ36k6RJm

— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) August 1, 2024

Other opposition figures, including Trinamool Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra and Congress MP Manickam Tagore have also mocked the BJP over the video.

“New parliament lobby is leaking water…” Ms Moitra posted on X, comparing the apparent leak to the BJP’s “shaky” election results; the saffron party claimed a third term in the April-June polls, but only with support from allies after falling 32 seats short of an outright majority.

Mr Tagore’s post referenced the exam paper leak row involving the NEET-UG medical course entrance tests, which the opposition has used to target the central government.

“Paper leakage outside, water leakage inside…” he declared.

Paper leakage outside,
water leakage inside. The recent water leakage in the Parliament lobby used by the President highlights urgent weather resilience issues in the new building, just a year after completion.
Moving Adjournment motion on this issue in Loksabha. #Parliament pic.twitter.com/kNFJ9Ld21d

— Manickam Tagore .B🇮🇳மாணிக்கம் தாகூர்.ப (@manickamtagore) August 1, 2024

“The recent water leakage in the Parliament lobby used by President (Droupadi Murmu) highlights urgent weather resilience issues in the new building,” he also said, indicating he will move an adjournment notice in the Lok Sabha’s ongoing session to discuss this issue.

Not to be outdone, Delhi’s ruling Aam Aadmi Party, in a long-term pitched battle with the BJP over Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest by the Enforcement Directorate, posted, “Parliament built at cost of Rs 1,200 crore is now dependent on a bucket of Rs 120.”

₹1200 करोड़ से बनकर तैयार हुई संसद को अब ₹120 की बाल्टी का ही सहारा है ⁉️ pic.twitter.com/kKlJTEK81N

— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) August 1, 2024

The government has yet to react to the video or the opposition’s jibes.

The digs come days after a video of water leaking from the roof of a Vande Bharat train from Delhi to Varanasi. A video shared by a passenger showed water pouring into the coach.

Northern Railway cited a ”temporary blockage of pipes” as the reason behind the leakage.

The Vande Bharat trains are among the government’s flagship schemes for the railways.

And, in June, there were reports of water leaking from the roof of the sanctum sanctorum, or inner chambers, of the grand Ram Temple consecrated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a high-profile event in January, just weeks before the general election.

Chief priest Acharya Satyendra Das complained also of a lack of drainage.

READ | No Drainage, Roof Leaking After Rains: Ram Temple Priest

However, the temple’s administrative officials dismissed this claim, saying rainwater had dripped down pipes “fixed to install electric wires” amid construction work on the second floor.

READ | No Leakage In Ram Temple, Water Trickled From Pipes: Trust Chief

Delhi has been battling heavy rainfall over the past 24-48 hours.

READ | 9 Dead In Delhi-NCR, Schools Shut, Red Alert For Heavy Rain

The torrential downpour, which saw parts of the city receive record rainfall, prompted the India Meteorological Department to issue a ‘red alert’ for the city.

Hamas has not confirmed the death of Mohammed Deif, who led the group’s military wing. 

​Hamas has not confirmed the death of Mohammed Deif, who led the group’s military wing.