Wayanad Landslide: Toll Crosses 300-Mark, Hundreds Still Missing; More Rain Likely

Wayanad: Four days after three massive landslides struck some villages in Wayanad district of Kerala, the death toll climbed to 308, according to officials on Friday. The Meppadi panchayat in the district came under the grip of natural calamity on July 30 burying scores of houses, shops etc under mud, turning the residential areas into a ghost village with several still missing. Meanwhile, the rescue and relief operations entered Day 4 with Army and NDRF intensifying their efforts.

As per reports, over 200 people, including 23 children, are still missing. The rain fury has destroyed 346 homes so far, leaving many homeless and prompting them to take shelter in camps set up by government for those affected by the landslide.

Scores of people are still missing and hundreds receiving treatments after massive landslides struck the hilly areas near Meppadi in Wayanad. For the unversed, three landslides struck Wayanad within a span of four hours on Tuesday.

Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Noolpuzha in Wayanad district were some of the worst hit by the landslides. Several people were feared to have been washed away in the Chaliyar river.

Rescue Operations Underway

Braving rains and adverse terrain, around 40 teams of rescuers resumed search operations on a war footing. The search and rescue operations that got underway early morning received an impetus due to the completion of the 190-foot-long Bailey bridge that will enable the movement of heavy machinery, including excavators, and ambulances to the worst-affected Mundakkai and Chooralmala hamlets, they said.

The 40 teams will conduct search operations in six zones of the landslides-hit areas -- Attamala and Aaranmala (first), Mundakkai (second), Punchirimattam (third), Vellarimala village (fourth), GVHSS Vellarimala (fifth), and riverbank (sixth).

Soon after the calamity hit, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said due to the intense rainfall, landslides occurred, and an entire region was destroyed.

More Rain in Store for Kerala

The India Meteorological Department of Kerala has issued an orange alert in the Wayanad district until Saturday, which has already been affected by landslides claiming over 290 lives.

Further, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi visited the landslide-hit district and took stock of the situation. They also visited injured people at hospitals.