New Delhi [India]: A five-member expert team led by senior scientist John Matthai from the National Centre for Geosciences, appointed by the State Disaster Management Authority, will inspect the landslide-hit areas in Wayanad's Meppadi panchayat on Tuesday.

The team will assess the risks in various parts of the disaster-stricken area and surrounding regions. They will evaluate the causes of the disaster and the phenomena that occurred during the landslide. Following their expert examination, the report will be submitted to the government.

The panel will also recommend suitable land uses for the affected area. The team will operate under the Disaster Management Authority Act, Section 24(h) of 2005. The Centre of Excellence in Water-Related Disaster Management (CWRM) Principal Scientist and Head, Dr. T.K. Drishy, Suratkal NIT Associate Professor Dr. Srivalsa Kolathayar, District Soil Conservation Officer Tara Manoharan, and Kerala Disaster Management Authority Hazard and Risk Analyst P. Pradeep are also part of the expert group.

Additionally, Kerala Health Minister Veena George has directed the appointment of more psychiatric experts from medical colleges to serve in the disaster-affected areas. This is in addition to the psychiatrists and counsellors already provided by the Department of Health.

Measures are being implemented to ensure the mental health of the affected population, including children. Both individual and group counselling are being offered. Today alone, 100-member mental health teams visited 13 camps. Group counselling was provided to 222 people, psychosocial interventions to 386 individuals, and pharmacotherapy to 18 people.

The health teams have so far visited 1,592 homes, ensuring healthcare provision. Twelve health teams visited 274 houses. Instructions have been issued to implement measures to prevent communicable diseases, with infection control protocols being strictly followed.

Officials from the Health and Women and Child Development Departments will visit the camps to evaluate the ongoing activities. AYUSH services are also being provided. To date, 91 DNA samples have been sent for testing. ANI