All India Football Federation (AIFF) President Kalyan Chaubey.
| Photo Credit: ANI

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) will be organising two charity football matches to raise funds for relief work in Kerala and Himachal Pradesh, which have been devastated by natural disasters.

The AIFF is trying to schedule its first benefit match in Manjeri in Malappuram district of Kerala on August 30, 2024 between Kolkata outfit Mohammedan Sporting Club and a Super League Kerala XI.

The AIFF has proposed September 2, 2024 as the date for the second charity match in Lucknow. However, further details are still being chalked out by the governing body with the prospective clubs.

“I’m happy that one of India’s oldest clubs, Mohammedan Sporting immediately agreed to our proposal for the cause of humanity. We are also in advance conversation with two clubs for the Lucknow match,” said AIFF President, Kalyan Chaubey in a release.

“Sports is a powerful medium to offer comfort and heal humanity after such tragedies. We often celebrate cups won by clubs; let’s now come together to raise the cup of solidarity,” the AIFF president said.

The two states have been facing devastating natural disasters, with massive landslides in parts of Wayanad, Kerala on July 30, leaving behind a trail of death and destruction.

In Himachal Pradesh too, landslides and flash floods triggered by heavy rain during the past week have killed more than 100 people and affected lives at multiple locations.

New Delhi:

The deadly landslides in Kerala’s ecologically fragile Wayanad district were triggered by a heavy burst of rainfall, made 10 per cent heavier by climate change, according to a new rapid attribution study by a global team of scientists.

Researchers from India, Sweden, the US and the UK warned that such events will become more common as the climate continues to warm.

To measure the impact of human-caused climate change, the scientists from the World Weather Attribution (WWA) group analysed climate models with high enough resolution to accurately reflect rainfall in the relatively small study area.

The models indicated that the intensity of rainfall has increased by 10 per cent due to climate change, they said.

The models also predict a further four per cent increase in rainfall intensity if the average global temperature rises by two degrees Celsius compared to the 1850-1900 average.

The scientists, however, said there is a “high level of uncertainty” in the model results as the study area is small and mountainous with complex rainfall-climate dynamics.

Having said that, the increase in heavy one-day rainfall events aligns with a growing body of scientific evidence on extreme rainfall in a warming world, including in India, and the understanding that a warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, leading to heavier downpours.

According to scientists, the atmosphere’s capacity to hold moisture increases by about 7 per cent for every one-degree Celsius rise in global temperature.

The Earth’s global surface temperature has already increased by around 1.3 degrees Celsius due to the rapidly rising concentration of greenhouse gases, primarily carbon dioxide and methane. Scientists say this is the reason behind worsening extreme weather events, such as droughts, heat waves and floods worldwide.

The WWA scientists said that while the relationship between land cover, land use changes and landslide risk in Wayanad is not fully clear from existing studies, factors, such as quarrying for building materials and a 62 per cent reduction in forest cover may have increased the slopes’ susceptibility to landslides during heavy rainfall.

Other researchers have also linked the Wayanad landslides to a combination of forest cover loss, mining in fragile terrain and prolonged rain followed by heavy precipitation.

S Abhilash, the director of the Advanced Centre for Atmospheric Radar Research at Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), had earlier told PTI that the warming of the Arabian Sea is leading to the formation of deep cloud systems, resulting in extremely heavy rainfall in Kerala in a short period and increasing the risk of landslides.

“Our research found that the southeast Arabian Sea is becoming warmer, causing the atmosphere above Kerala to become thermodynamically unstable. This instability is allowing the formation of deep clouds,” he had said.

According to the landslide atlas released by ISRO’s National Remote Sensing Centre last year, 10 out of the top 30 landslide-prone districts in India are in Kerala, with Wayanad ranked at the 13th spot.

A study published by Springer in 2021 said all landslide hotspots in Kerala are in the Western Ghats region and are concentrated in Idukki, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Wayanad, Kozhikode and Malappuram districts.

It said about 59 per cent of total landslides in Kerala have occurred in plantation areas.

A 2022 study on depleting forest cover in Wayanad showed that 62 per cent of forests in the district disappeared between 1950 and 2018, while plantation cover rose by around 1,800 per cent. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Wayanad (Kerala):

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday carried out an aerial survey of disaster-hit areas of this north Kerala district where landslides claimed hundreds of lives.

PM Modi conducted aerial survey of the landslide-ravaged Chooralmala, Mundakkai, and Punchirimattom hamlets aboard an Indian Air Force helicopter, on which he departed to Wayanad from Kannur Airport around 11.15 am.

He was accompanied by Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Union Minister of State for Tourism and Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi.

After the aerial survey, he will land at the SKMJ Higher Secondary School in Kalpetta here from where PM Modi will proceed to certain landslides-hit areas by road.

His visit comes at a time when the Kerala government has sought Rs 2,000 crore in assistance for rehabilitation and relief work in the disaster-stricken region.

At least 226 people died and many remain unaccounted for after landslides hit the region on July 30 in what is seen as one of the biggest natural disasters to have impacted the southern state. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

The Adani group has fulfiled its promise of Rs 5 crore donation to support the rehabilitation of Wayanad landslide victims. 

On July 31, Gautam Adani, Chairman and founder of the Adani group of companies expressed his condolences for the lives lost in the Wayanad landslide and said that he will provide financial assistance of Rs 5 crore to support relief efforts in Kerala.

We #StandWithWayanadSupporting Those in Need!

Adani Group fulfills its promise to support the rehabilitation of Wayanad landslide victims. Our Chairman, Shri @gautam_adani, announced that a Rs 5 crore donation was handed over to Hon. Chief Minister of Kerala, Shri… pic.twitter.com/hDN2XOX2Xi

— Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd (@Adaniports) August 9, 2024

 Mr Adani had said he was “deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life in Wayanad”. “My heart goes out to the affected families,” he added.

Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life in Wayanad. My heart goes out to the affected families. The Adani Group stands in solidarity with Kerala during this difficult time. We humbly extend our support with a contribution of Rs 5 Cr to the Kerala Chief Minister’s Distress…

— Gautam Adani (@gautam_adani) July 31, 2024

Several people died and many remain unaccounted for after landslides hit the region on July 30, in what was likely one of the biggest natural disasters to have hit Kerala.

(Disclaimer: New Delhi Television is a subsidiary of AMG Media Networks Limited, an Adani Group Company.)

Kochi:

The Kerala High Court, hearing a suo-moto case on the Wayanad landslide disaster, on Friday stressed the need for a holistic approach in pursuing developmental activities, so tragedies like that which took place in the hill district could be averted.

It then appointed senior advocate Ranjith Thampan as amicus curiae and asked him to look into present policies and to suggest fresh ones on environmental issues.

The court pointed out that a landslide is a classic example of what happens when the natural environment’s balance is disrupted.

“When you are talking about the availability of a resource and you remove such things from nature, the ecological balance is disturbed. Landslide is a classic example. You create pockets of holes which then lead to such incidents. A holistic approach is very much needed to check the social, economic, and ecological impact of such activities,” it said.

The court asked the amicus curiae to do an in-depth analysis on how the environment can be protected and asked the state government to develop a comprehensive policy on developmental activities.

It also impleaded agencies including the National Centre for Earth Science Studies, the Geological Survey of India, the Union of India, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Kerala State Disaster Management, the State Environmental Impact Assessment, and the Coastal Zone Management Authority, and posted the next hearing for August 16.

Meanwhile, the over 1,000-strong rescue team comprising personnel from all the defence forces, the NDRF, the SDRF, police, fire service and volunteers began searches early on Friday morning in the four worst-affected areas of Churalmala, Velarimala, Mundakayil, and Punchirimadom. The death toll has touched 413 while 152 people are still missing.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is arriving on Saturday to visit the affected areas and will also interact with the victims presently housed in relief camps.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

In a thoughtful move, a 13-year-old girl child from Tamil Nadu, Harini Sri, performed Bharatanatyam for three straight hours to raise funds for the people affected by the Wayanad landslides in Kerala.

The young girl donated Rs 15,000, including her savings, to the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) on Thursday.

Taking to its official handle on X, the Information Public Relations (IPRD), Kerala government posted, “A 13-year-old girl child from Tamil Nadu, Harini Sri, performed Bharatanatyam for 3 hours straight to raise funds for the Wayanad landslide to #standwithwayanad. She donated Rs15,000, including her savings, to CMDRF.”

A 13-year-old girl child from Tamil Nadu, Harini Sri, performed #Bharatanatyam for 3 hrs straight to raise funds for #Wayanadlandslide to #standwithwayanad. She donated ₹15,000, including her savings, to #CMDRF. pic.twitter.com/v8FmbkZ1ie

— Kerala Government | കേരള സർക്കാർ (@iprdkerala) August 8, 2024

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan met the girl and gave her blessings.

The Chooralmala and Mundakkai in Kerala’s Wayanad were hit by massive landslides on July 30, claiming over 300 lives and creating widespread property damage.

Meanwhile, a special team consisting of army personnel, SOG officials, and forest officials has been conducting a search operation at Sunrise Valley in Soojippara, inside the forest, since Thursday.

The Wayanad district administration organized a farewell for the Indian Army personnel who were a part of the rescue and search operation in landslide-hit areas of Kerala’s Wayanad.

As the Indian Army, after completing a ten-day-long rescue operation, is set to leave, the rescue operation will be handed over to the forces of the NDRF, SDRF, Fire Force, and Kerala police.

An Indian Army battalion comprising around 500 members from Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, Kannur, and Bengaluru is set to return.

The maintenance team of Bailey Bridge, temporarily constructed by the Indian Army, will remain in the area.

IAF helicopters are now aiding the search operations. Till now, more than 700 kg of relief material, 8 civilians, and teams of the Special Operations Group have been airlifted by helicopters since Wayanad was hit by disaster on July 30.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Wayanad:

The Kerala government on Wednesday said it was taking immediate steps to rehabilitate all the families affected by the massive landslides in this north Kerala district more than a week ago.

The announcement was made by state Revenue Minister K Rajan who is part of a Cabinet sub-committee currently camped out close to the disaster areas to assess the situation there.

K Rajan, after an emergency meeting of the committee with the panchayat presidents and secretaries at the Collectorate on the issue of temporary rehabilitation of people in the relief camps, said that assistance will be provided to all eligible persons including those in camps, homes of relatives and hospitals.

There is no truth in the campaigns which claim that people have to register themselves at the camps to be included in the rehabilitation plan, he said.

“The rehabilitation package will be prepared on the basis of accurate data from the landslide affected areas and not on the basis of who is living in the camps,” the minister said.

He said that the propaganda that only those in the camps will get help was not true.

Giving details of the steps taken, K Rajan said that the committee has directed the local bodies to identify vacant houses, quarters, flats and hostels within the panchayat limits for temporary resettlement of the people living in camps operating in various schools.

It will also help to resume classes in the schools where the camps are running, he said.

The minister also said that government quarters and hotels will also be used for temporary resettlement of the landslide survivors.

He also said that where private accomodations, including flat complexes, are concerned, the government will fix the rent and pay the same and none of the survivors would be burdened with the payments.

K Rajan said the plan for temporary resettlement of people is being implemented to provide more comfortable accommodation for the affected people and to resume studies in the schools which are functioning as camps.

The first consideration for rehabilitation of the victims would be the vacant houses, government quarters, hotels, home stays and hostels in panchayats close to the disaster-hit areas, he said.

The minister said that the government’s plan is to safely relocate the people living in the camps in a phased manner.

The number of deaths resulting from the devastating landslides in the Mundakkai and Chooralmala areas of Wayanad on July 30 has increased to 226 with around 138 people missing.

The search operations for those missing from the landslides-hit Chooralmala and Mundakkai areas continued for the ninth day with 1,026 personnel from various forces, including the army and navy, over 500 volunteers and heavy machinery being deployed there.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Forest Department officers rescue children from a landslide-affected area of Wayanad district.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Toys procured for the children of Wayanad who were orphaned by the recent landslide.
| Photo Credit: Special arrangement