KCBC hands over 70 houses to Vilangad landslide-hit families

Seventy houses constructed under a rehabilitation scheme undertaken by the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC) for families affected by the Vilangad landslide were handed over on Thursday (May 14, 2026).

KCBC president and Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Calicut Varghese Chakkalakal inaugurated the event. Archbishop of the Thalassery Archdiocese Joseph Pamplany officiated at the key handover ceremony and presided over the inaugural function. Thamarassery Bishop Remigiose Inchananiyil welcomed the gathering.

The rehabilitation scheme was launched after families affected by the July 30, 2024, landslide at Vilangad complained of delays in government assistance. Coordinators said the first phase of the housing project, comprising 70 units, was completed in 21 months at a cost of ₹10.34 crore.

According to the project coordinators, ₹11.34 crore was mobilised for the initiative, of which ₹10.34 crore has been spent so far. The houses were customised to suit the needs of the selected families, with separate engineering plans prepared for each unit.

Priests who supervised the project under the Thamarassery diocese said a total of 138 houses would be built in Kozhikode and Wayanad districts on completion of the second phase of the rehabilitation scheme for landslide victims. They added that the second phase of the project was also launched on Thursday.

The launch of a special task force was another highlight of the key handover ceremony. The task force, comprising trained counsellors, will offer mental support to the rehabilitated families. In the next phase, various livelihood support schemes for the landslide survivors will also be considered.

KCBC functionaries said the support of the Centre for Overall Development under the Thamarassery diocese and the Kerala Social Service Forum was instrumental in the speedy execution of the project. They added that all dioceses had made commendable contributions to the rehabilitation effort apart from undertaking their own projects to support more affected families.