Kochi: The Kerala government has informed the High Court of an estimated Rs 1,200 crores loss resulting from the devastating landslides in Wayanad. In a suo motu petition presented to the Kerala High Court, Advocate General K. Gopalakrishna Kurup revealed that 1,555 houses have been rendered uninhabitable. The petition is being reviewed by a division bench comprising Justices A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar and V.M. Shyam Kumar.

The landslides have claimed 231 lives, with 178 bodies already handed over to the families of the deceased. Additionally, 212 body parts have been recovered, while 128 individuals remain unaccounted for. The disaster has also caused significant damage, with 626 hectares of agricultural land destroyed, three bridges collapsed, and 136 buildings belonging to local government institutions, 209 shops, 100 other structures, and two schools severely affected. Infrastructure damage includes a 1.5 km stretch of road, 124 kilometres of electricity cables, and two transformers. Furthermore, 226 cattle were killed in the disaster.

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This initial report highlights the scale of the damage, with a detailed report expected to be submitted later. When asked about the scientific studies to identify the landslide's cause, the Advocate General requested additional time.

The court has directed that it receive weekly updates on the rehabilitation efforts, with the case to be prioritised every Friday. The court has also suggested that in future instances of excessive rainfall, immediate evacuation of affected regions should be carried out and has requested a review of similar issues in other areas.

The Union Road Transport Ministry, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), and the National Remote Sensing Centre have also been made parties in the case to address the broader implications of the disaster.