Kairali UK West Berkshire organises Biryani Challenge fundraising event to help the victims of the Wayanad landslide in Kerala, India

Money has been raised by an organisation in Newbury to support an Indian community affected by devastating landslides, writes Dan Colquhoun.

In July 2024, the district of Wayanad in Kerala, India, was struck by a catastrophic landslide that claimed more than 420 lives and left hundreds more injured or missing.

The disaster, triggered by exceptionally heavy rainfall, has been described as one of the deadliest in Kerala’s history.

Global warming, deforestation and poor building construction have been identified as the most likely causes of the landslides.

The scale of the disaster prompted a giant rescue operation involving more than 1,200 personnel from various agencies.

Despite challenging conditions and damaged infrastructure, rescuers managed to save 1,592 people shortly after the incident.

In response to the devastating impact on the region, an organisation based in Newbury has been calling for support to raise money to help those affected.

The Kairali UK West Berkshire unit organised a fundraising event called the Biryani Challenge to help the victims of the Wayanad landslide.

The initiative successfully raised £1,435, demonstrating the power of community action in times of crisis.

The funds were presented in the form of a cheque to Priya Rajan, the national president of Kairali UK, by volunteers Roshin and Sreejith.

These contributions have since been sent to the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) in Kerala, where they will aid in relief and rehabilitation efforts in the affected areas.