In the early hours of July 30, 2024, devastating landslides struck Kerala's Wayanad district. The disaster tore through the region around 1 am; the village of Meppadi, just 12 km from Amma's ashram, was among the worst hit, and roughly 86,000 square metres of land slipped away at nearby Chooralmala.
Brahmacharini Deekshitamrita Chaitanya, stationed at the Mananthavady Ashram, recalled waking suddenly that night, unable to sleep. "By 6 am, my phone started ringing continuously," she said. As the scale of the tragedy became clear — with many still trapped underground — volunteers from AYUDH, Amma's youth wing, received government permission to join rescue and recovery operations alongside the military.
Volunteers helped recover the deceased, assisted with last rites and cremations in partnership with Seva Bharati, cleared debris, and distributed firewood, gas cylinders, and other supplies. Amrita Hospital sent emergency medical teams, and volunteers offered counselling and comfort to roughly 1,000 survivors sheltering in relief camps.
The disaster affected tea plantation workers and entire families; documented cases included newlyweds and a 14-year-old who lost his whole family. "In the face of this disaster, everyone was equal," one volunteer observed. As Bri Deekshitamrita reflected, "we are insignificant in the face of nature's power."
