51 Wayanad Landslide Survivor Families Get New Homes Under IUML Initiative

A total of 51 landslide survivor families in Kerala’s Wayanad district have moved into newly constructed homes built under a rehabilitation initiative led by the Indian Union Muslim League .

The houses, located at Vellithode near Thrikkaipatta in Meppadi panchayat , mark the completion of the first phase of a 105-home project for families displaced by the Mundakkai–Chooralmala landslides of July 30, 2024 , one of the deadliest natural disasters in the state’s history.

A formal ceremony was held on Monday evening in the presence of IUML leaders, including party state president Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal and senior leader P. K. Kunhalikutty . Earlier in the day, beneficiaries performed house-warming ceremonies according to their respective religious traditions.

The housing colony built on about 11–11.5 acres of land was developed after the party launched a large-scale crowdfunding campaign through a dedicated mobile application to mobilise public support for the rehabilitation effort.

Each house has a built-up area of about 1,060 square feet on eight cents of land and includes three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, living and dining spaces , along with a work area and sit-out. The homes are fully furnished with basic household items , enabling families to move in immediately.

Infrastructure such as internal roads, wells, a large water tank and paved access paths has also been created within the colony. The houses were designed to allow vertical expansion in the future if required.

The project has also drawn attention for interfaith participation among beneficiaries . Fourteen houses were allotted to Hindu families, while the remaining 37 were given to Muslim families through a draw based on a list prepared by the state government.

Construction work on the remaining houses will continue in phases, and the township will eventually include a community hall, an Anganwadi and a public park to support the resettled community.