Rescue Operations Continue on 5th Day, 215 Bodies Recovered

Wayanad, Kerala:

As search and rescue missions in the landslide-stricken areas of this northern Kerala district reached their fifth day, rescuers discovered more bodies and body parts, bringing the death toll to 215, with approximately 206 individuals still unaccounted for.

Larger rocks and logs brought by landslides and left in the residential areas of Mundakkai and Chooralmala, as well as the waterlogged terrain, are presenting a significant obstacle to rescue operations.

To find individuals still believed to be trapped under the wreckage in landslide-ravaged villages, advanced search radars will be utilized in the affected regions, as stated by a Defence PRO on Saturday.

The Kerala government has asked for the deployment of sophisticated radar equipment, including one Xaver radar and four Reeco radars, which will be transported from Delhi in an Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft, along with their operators.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan remarked that the search and rescue efforts are in their final phases, although 206 individuals are still missing.

Speaking to the press, he mentioned the difficulty in identifying the deceased bodies and body parts retrieved from the Chaliyar river.

“So far, 215 bodies have been found, including 87 women, 98 men, and 30 children. A total of 148 bodies have been handed over. There are 206 missing persons. Eighty-one individuals are injured and receiving treatment in various hospitals,” he stated.

Regarding the rehabilitation work, Vijayan stated that a secure area will be identified and a new town will be constructed.

He also mentioned that the education minister will inspect the schools destroyed in the area, and the education department will ensure that the education of the disaster-affected children continues.

The day also witnessed the arrival of Malayalam superstar Mohanlal in the landslide-devastated areas of Mundakkai and Chooralmala, in his capacity as an honorary Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army, overseeing the search and rescue operations.

Dressed in army fatigues, the actor had a brief conversation with officers at the Army camp in Meppadi before touring Chooralmala, Mundakkai, and Punchirimattom, among other locations, and engaging with various rescue personnel, including the Army and locals, to grasp the severity of the situation.

At the landslide-affected sites, Mohanlal, who was appointed as an Lt Colonel in the territorial army in 2009, was briefed on the search and rescue missions by army officials and later spoke with members of the media.

During his interaction, he described it as one of the most catastrophic natural disasters ever witnessed in the country and expressed gratitude to everyone involved in all aspects of the search and rescue efforts.

The actor also revealed that the Viswasanthi Foundation, established by him, has pledged Rs three crore for the rehabilitation efforts in the disaster-stricken area.

Actor-director and retired army officer Major Ravi, accompanying Mohanlal, assured that as the managing director of the foundation, they would reconstruct the Mundakkai LP school, which was left in ruins due to the landslides.

Meanwhile, the matter of donating to the Chief Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund (CMDRF) sparked controversy within the Congress following senior party leader Ramesh Chennithala’s announcement that he would donate one month’s salary, received as an MLA, to the fund.

This announcement drew criticism from his party colleague and KPCC chief, K Sudhakaran, who expressed dissatisfaction by stating that there was no need to contribute to funds managed by the CPI(M)-led Left government.

“There was no instruction from the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee to donate to the government’s fund (CMDRF),” Sudhakaran told a news channel.

He emphasized that Congress was collecting funds to assist the affected individuals, suggesting that Chennithala should have contributed to that cause instead.

Sudhakaran’s remarks come amidst online campaigns discouraging people from donating to the CMDRF.

Until Friday, the police had registered 39 FIRs related to these campaigns against the CM’s Facebook post seeking aid for those impacted by the landslides in Wayanad district.

The police also revealed that as of Friday, 279 social media accounts were campaigning against contributions to the CMDRF, and notices had been issued for their removal.

Despite these campaigns, individuals from various backgrounds, including an elderly tea stall owner and children, have reportedly been contributing their modest earnings or pocket money in varying amounts to the fund.