Gundlupet man survives Wayanad landslide, saves daughter and grandson

CHAMARAJANAGAR: A man from Tryambakapura in Gundlupet taluk, his daughter and grandson had a miraculous escape when the landslide occurred at Chooralmala in Wayanad district of Kerala a few days ago.

Sharing the story of his survival with Public TV, Swamy Shetty said he had gone to Chooralmala to attend the death ceremony of his elder brother when the landslide occurred. “A bridge broke and water entered houses. A nine-month pregnant woman and her husband were washed away right in front of my eyes. We managed to save ourselves by holding on to a wire”, he said.

Swamy Shetty with his wife and daughter-in-law Nandini at their house in Tryambakapura after his safe return.

While expressing happiness that all his family members were safe, Swamy Shetty said, “While trying to escape from the flood water, I sustained injuries in the leg, but I managed to save my daughter and grandson. Due to the force of the water hitting me in the chest, I had developed pain, but scans show that everything is alright”.

“We were eight of us in the house when the flood occurred. At the place where we were staying, only about 10-12 survived. Even concrete roof houses collapsed and I thought our end had come. We had tied some wires and with the help of that, we came to higher ground when me and my daughter sustained injuries in the leg. The next morning, not even a blade of grass was left standing”, Swamy Shetty recalled.