THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Search operations entered into the sixth consecutive day in the disaster-hit Wayanad area of Kerala, with rescuers racing against time to find survivors from the debris of landslides that have killed over 360 people.
According to reports by Indian and international media, the rescue teams with around 206 people still missing, deep search radars, drones, heavy machinery, and cadaver dogs have been deployed to locate survivors or deceased, believed to be trapped beneath the huge debris in the landslide-ravaged villages.
Nearly 1,300 personnel from various forces — including the NDRF, K-9 Dog Squad, Army, Special Operation Group, Madras Engineering Group, Police, Fire Force, Forest Department, Navy, and Coast Guard, deployed in the disaster-struck areas, have stepped up their efforts to find people or their remains.
The death toll has touched 366 after Wayanad’s four villages were washed away by nature’s fury on Tuesday morning, the local media reports said.
Residents of landslide-devastated villages, who were forced to flee their homes, have reported thefts from their abandoned properties, prompting police to increase night patrols.
The displaced residents said that thieves are taking advantage of the state’s biggest humanitarian crisis to steal valuables, they were quoted as saying by local Indian media.
Meanwhile, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said the search and rescue operations have entered their final stages. He said there was difficulty in identifying the dead bodies and parts recovered from the Chaliyar River.
The Kerala government also announced free ration to the people of Mundakkai and Chooralmala regions of Wayanad district, which were hit by the devastating landslide on July 30.
Vijayan said Education Minister R Bindu will also visit Wayanad to ensure children’s education is not disrupted.
The Vijayan-led state government has also announced plans to establish a new township to rehabilitate displaced victims.
The CM said the state has received offers from the Congress party and the Karnataka government to build 100 houses each to rehabilitate those who lost everything in the disaster.
He said similar offers to build houses have been made by others too. “The government plans a comprehensive rehabilitation process for the survivors, aiming for swift completion. A new, safer area will be identified for constructing a township,” the Chief Minister said referring to the rehabilitation efforts.
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