On 30 July 2025, the serene hillsides of Mundakkai and Churalmala in Wayanad bore witness to a solemn gathering in memory of the many people who lost their lives and homes in the tragic landslide that occurred on 31 July 2024. Organised at the burial site of the victims, the programme, marking the first anniversary of the disaster, served as a moment of collective remembrance, grief, and resilience for the community. It honoured the memories of those who lost their lives, acknowledging the pain and recovery journey of the survivors. The event brought together relief agencies and NGOs like BREADS, government officials, local leaders, religious representatives and most importantly, the survivors and families of the deceased—the presence of the Wayanad District Collector Smt. D.R. Meghasree IAS, MLA Shri T. Siddique, and Minister for Wayanad Affairs Shri O.R. Kelu reaffirmed the commitment of the state and district administration, and society towards the long-term well-being of the affected families. The emotional and dignified programme included interfaith prayer offerings, speeches of remembrance, and symbolic lighting of candles and floral tributes. The atmosphere was heavy with memories but also filled with quiet strength drawn from community unity, shared experiences, and a shared hope for healing.
Looking back over the year, BREADS together Don Bosco College Sulthan Bathery had promptly initiated emergency relief efforts under the Wayanad Landslide Intervention project, providing food kits and essential relief materials to landslide-affected individuals residing in camps across various locations. Even after the camp phase ended and affected families moved into rented accommodations, BREADS continued to extend comprehensive support after conducting a detailed needs assessment survey covering 256 families affected by the landslide. This exercise helped identify gaps in livelihood, housing, education, and health support. It was instrumental in tailoring interventions to address the unique needs of each family, ensuring that the aid provided was relevant, inclusive, and impactful.
Some of the interventions included:
- Distribution of home essentials and appliances for the families who lost their homes
- An additional 600 food kits to ensure food security
- BREADS prioritised educational interventions as part of its recovery strategy:
- 15 students were supported for admission into Undergraduate Degree programmes, and school-going children with scholarships to continue their schooling
- 350 study kits for students of Government Higher Secondary School, Kakkavayal; SALP School, Mylambadi; and a few other Private Schools where landslide-affected children are studying are helping to return to school with confidence and dignity.
- BREADS together Don Bosco College Sulthan Bathery organized get-togethers for Onam (200+ individuals) and Christmas (457 individuals) festivals to promote recovery, cultural connection, and solidarity among the landslide-affected families. These programmes offered much-needed emotional relief and a sense of solidarity and support for the communities.
- To promote disaster resilience among young populations in vulnerable regions, BREADS conducted disaster preparedness sessions in 38 schools across Wayanad, reaching 4000+ students.
- Psychological support services for 424 individuals, including trauma-informed counselling and community-based mental health awareness. These interventions promoted resilience, reduced distress, and supported the emotional recovery of individuals and families affected by the tragedy, as in Binu’s case.
- BREADS had deployed two full-time staff and several volunteers for the past year. They provided help, such as entitlements for people who lost their identity cards, and offered other forms of support to those affected. The staff and volunteer team worked together to provide these services.
Binu’s (name changed) story reveals the multiple losses suffered by some people in the landslides in Mundakkai. He is 22 years old, and a cancer survivor, undergoing medical treatment for the same even before the landslides. Binu lived in Mundakkai with his parents and younger brother. Binu’s father also struggled with addiction to alcohol. Tragically, during the night of 30 July 2024, the landslides crashed into their lives, destroying their home and killing Binu’s mother. The complexity of loss in his life grew exponentially overnight. The familiarity and security of the home and mother were wiped out without warning. Being forced to relocate to Nedubala, Kalpetta, after the landslides can be seen as a metaphor for his life—he must go where he does not want and without the comfort of the beloved familiar to mitigate the overwhelming changes. He is uncertain of how they will survive and make a living in the present, their economic future, his health, the future of his family, father and younger brother, and whether they will overcome the loss of their mother as a family. The multiple losses only increase the struggles of Binu’s father with addiction, and therefore, increase the uncertainty experienced by Binu. BREADS adopted a multidimensional and multidisciplinary approach, offering both psychological and material support to Binu on his journey to recovery.
One year later, as we remember the loss and recovery from the tragic landslide, BREADS also reiterates its commitment towards the ongoing support, disaster preparedness, and environmental awareness as Wayanad continues to face the challenges of extreme weather and its fragile terrain. We also fondly remember the significant contribution made by the Foreign as well as Indian Donor Agencies and Individual well-wishers of BREADS, which helped in reaching out to landslide victims of Wayanad.
