Death Toll Hits 387 As Wayanad Rescue Operations Continue

Rescue operations in Kerala, following last week’s devastating landslides and floods in Wayanad, have entered their seventh day with the death toll climbing to 387.

Authorities are still searching for 180 individuals who remain missing amid the chaos.

A formidable rescue force of over 1,500 personnel, including members of the three defence forces, NDRF, SDRF, police, fire services, and dedicated volunteers, launched renewed search operations early Monday morning.

Their focus is on the hardest-hit areas of Churalmala, Velarimala, Mundakayil, and Punchirimadom.

In a somber development, authorities have recovered many unidentified bodies, leading to a surge of worried relatives and friends at local hospitals.

They also discovered numerous dismembered body parts among the debris, prompting them to conduct DNA tests for identification.

Currently, about 100 relief camps are providing shelter to nearly 9,500 displaced individuals.

Additionally, 81 people are receiving medical treatment across various hospitals in the district.

A Cabinet sub-committee, comprising four state ministers, is actively supervising the ongoing rescue and relief operations.

In response to the crisis, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s appeal for donations has resonated widely, with substantial contributions flooding into the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund.

As the state grapples with the aftermath of this catastrophic event, the collective efforts of rescue teams and the community continue to play a crucial role in managing the crisis.

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