The recent devastating landslide in Kerala state, India, has led to the loss of at least 160 lives and the displacement of hundreds of people. In response to this tragedy, several UAE residents and businessmen have stepped up to provide aid and relief. Dubai resident Shabna Ibrahim and Wayanad resident Shajahan Kuttiyath are among those actively involved in relief efforts. Shabna’s family, including her brother and his wife who are Ayurveda doctors, have been assisting in rescue operations and medical treatment of the injured. Shajahan, who lost nearly 100 family members in the landslide, is working with a group of friends to organize relief operations.
The landslide in Wayanad has resulted in the destruction of several homes, schools, and other buildings, making it the worst tragedy in the region since the 2018 floods. The only bridge connecting Chooralmala village to the rest of Wayanad has collapsed, further complicating relief efforts. As a response to the crisis, UAE-based businessmen, including MA Yusuff Ali and B. Ravi Pillai, have donated significant amounts to the Kerala Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund. Additionally, Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil of VPS Healthcare has offered the expertise of their mountain rescue team to assist in rescue operations.
The Aster DM Healthcare group is also actively involved in the relief efforts, with the Dr. Moopens Medical College treating the injured in collaboration with government hospitals. The group has donated funds to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund and towards rebuilding homes for the displaced individuals. In a statement, Dr. Moopen expressed the group’s commitment to locating missing employees impacted by the landslide and providing support to them and their families. The group has mobilized a team and a mobile medical unit to provide essential supplies and medical aid in the disaster-affected areas.
The VPS group is awaiting instructions from the Kerala government to deploy their resources, which include mountain rescue specialists and emergency medical professionals. Prometheus Medical International, a subsidiary of VPS Healthcare, has offered their assistance to the affected areas. The group is ready to accommodate specific needs and requirements as per the Kerala government’s directive. As the relief operations continue, support from different organizations and individuals is crucial in helping the affected communities recover from this devastating natural disaster in Kerala.
