Vilangad Landslip: One Year On, Wounds Persist

Fast Summary

• Event: A devastating landslide struck the village of Vilangad, Kozhikode on July 30, 2024.
• Impact: Homes, shops, schools, churches were destroyed; bridges collapsed and rescue operations claimed the life of retired teacher K.A. Mathew.
• Government Response:

– A ₹2-crore river renovation project was pledged but remains unfulfilled.
– Families displaced received ₹15 lakh compensation after a delay of ten months.

• Community Aid: The Kerala Vyapari vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi (KVVES) distributed ₹30 lakhs to affected business owners.
• Infrastructure Damage:

– meaningful bridges in the area collapsed; makeshift replacements cannot support heavy traffic.
– Debris from cleanup efforts is being washed back into the river during rains due to improper disposal methods.

• Education Impact: St.GeorgeS High School transforms into a relief camp during floods; about 80 students dropped out this year.
• Housing Support:

– Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council promised to build houses for affected families; progress remains slow with only one house completed so far.
– Previous promises from a similar event in 2019 remain partially unfulfilled regarding sanitation and water facilities.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The ongoing struggles faced by Vilangad’s residents highlight critical issues concerning disaster recovery and governance efficacy in India. Despite pledges from both government institutions and NGOs, delays in delivering essential reparations-like adequate housing or executing infrastructure projects-can exacerbate community dissatisfaction and physical vulnerabilities to future disasters.

The failure to address long-standing challenges like improper debris management reflects systemic inefficiencies that prevent sustainable solutions for those impacted by natural calamities. Moreover, disruptions to education further underscore how disasters ripple into broader social sectors beyond immediate physical damage.

Addressing such incidents requires robust institutional accountability coupled with community-centric responses through timely implementation of promised measures on housing repair, school stability, safe transportation networks, and environmental upkeep-to ensure public trust as well as disaster resilience in rural regions like Vilangad.

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