Kerala Landslide Rescue Operations Continue into Seventh Day

Rescue efforts in Kerala's Wayanad region entered their seventh day on Monday, with the death toll reaching 308. Over 6,700 people have been relocated to relief camps. The government has deployed additional resources, including special radar equipment from the Indian Air Force, to assist in search operations.

Rescue and relief operations in landslide-hit areas of Wayanad, Kerala, entered their seventh consecutive day on Monday. The State Health Ministry confirmed the death toll has reached 308 as of August 2.

Authorities have recovered 220 bodies, with 180 individuals still missing as of Sunday. A total of 53 relief camps have been set up across Wayanad, housing 6,759 people, including 1983 families, 2501 males, 2677 females, 1581 children, and 20 pregnant women.

Sixteen additional camps have been established in Meppadi and various gram panchayats, composed of nine shelters and seven rescue camps. These locations now provide refuge to 2,514 individuals, encompassing 723 families, 943 males, 972 females, 599 children, and six pregnant women. Notable camps include SDMLP school, D-Paul public school at Kalpetta, and WMO college in Muttil.

The devastating landslides impacted Chooralmala and Mundakkai on July 30, causing significant loss of life and property. On Sunday night, the district administration conducted mass burials for the unidentified victims, following directives from Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to hold interfaith prayers.

Furthermore, night patrols have been implemented in the Chooralmala and Mundakkai regions to prevent unauthorized access to the affected areas. Authorities emphasized that no one should enter these zones without police permission, especially at night.

Responding to the Kerala Government's request, the Indian Air Force airlifted one ZAWER and four REECO radars from Siachen and Delhi on August 3 to aid in the search operations.