Kerala Landslides: Rapid Search Efforts and Rescue Operations Intensify

The army's completion of a bridge has accelerated the search for survivors and bodies after devastating landslides in Kerala's Wayanad district. Heavy rain caused landslides, with the worst-affected area initially cut off. Rescue teams have deployed additional resources, and nearly 1,600 people have been rescued so far.

The search for survivors and bodies after devastating landslides in Kerala is expected to speed up on Friday, following the army's completion of a bridge facilitating the transportation of heavy equipment to the affected area. Heavy rain in Kerala caused landslides in the hills of Wayanad district, sending mud, water, and boulders downhill, burying people in their sleep.

Initially, rescue efforts were hindered after the main bridge connecting the worst-affected area to Chooralmala was washed away. The newly-constructed 190-foot bridge by army engineers now allows heavy vehicles to operate, and drones with earth-sensing technology are being used to locate bodies buried in the mud.

Additional forces, including swimming experts, are focusing on the Chaliyar river and its banks where bodies might be found. While the hope of finding survivors is low, it has not been dismissed. The disaster has resulted in 189 confirmed deaths with 206 still missing, and nearly 1,600 individuals have been rescued from affected areas.