Two migrant workers lost their lives, and three remain missing following devastating landslides in Wayanad, as reported by the Centre for Migration and Inclusive Development (CMID). The landslides, which displaced 323 migrants, were thoroughly investigated by a fact-finding team from CMID after spending a week in the affected regions.
Contrary to initial reports of widespread casualties among the migrant workforce, the government consistently denied such claims. Although many workers were injured, all except one person from Bihar have since been discharged from the hospital. The fatalities included one worker from Bihar and a one-and-a-half-year-old child from Nepal, whose mother was also injured. Interestingly, the child was not killed in the primary Mundakkai landslide but in a minor landslide in a nearby area called Kunjom.
The three missing workers, all from Bihar, were employed at a tea plantation in Mundakkai. Efforts are ongoing to collect DNA samples to help identify them. Unfortunately, the person dispatched to Bihar for this purpose is facing financial difficulties, including covering transportation costs. With many relief camps being disbanded, a significant number of displaced migrant workers have had to return to their home states, potentially missing out on the immediate cash assistance promised by the government.
Among the displaced were over 100 women and 80 children, most of whom were relocated to temporary shelters for safety. Many of these displaced individuals have either returned to their native states or are currently seeking new job opportunities. Migrant workers employed in plantations and resorts were among those affected. However, it was noted that long-serving workers from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are being recognized as local residents, offering them a sense of stability during this challenging time.