Rescue and relief efforts in the landslide-affected regions of Wayanad, Kerala, continued for the seventh day on Monday. By Sunday, 220 bodies had been recovered, and 180 were still missing.
Here are the latest updates on the story:
- On Sunday night, the district administration conducted a mass burial for the unidentified victims of the landslides.
- In response to the disaster, 53 relief camps have been established in Wayanad. The latest figures indicate that 6,759 people, including 1,983 families, 2,501 men, 2,677 women, 1,581 children, and 20 pregnant women, have been relocated to these camps.
- The government has also set up 16 camps in Meppadi and surrounding gram panchayats, comprising 9 shelters and 7 rescue camps. These facilities have accommodated 2,514 people, including 723 families, 943 men, 972 women, 599 children, and six pregnant women.
- Additional rescue camps have been established at various schools and colleges, including SDMLP school, D-Paul public school at Kalpetta, RCLP school at Chundel, GHS school near Rippon, WMO college at Muttil, Rippon new building, and Arappatta.
- The Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) also announced that police night patrols had been implemented in the affected areas of Chooralmala and Mundakkai. The CMO warned against unauthorized entry into the homes or areas of the victims at night, stating that only those with police permission for rescue operations should be allowed access.
- In response to a request from the Kerala Government, the Indian Air Force airlifted one ZAWER and four REECO radars from Siachen and Delhi on August 3 to aid in the search operations.
The landslides, which struck Chooralmala and Mundakkai in Wayanad on July 30, caused significant devastation, resulting in numerous fatalities and extensive property damage. According to the State Health Ministry, the death toll has reached 308 as of August 2.
