Wayanad, Aug 7: The death toll from the devastating landslides in Kerala's Wayanad district has reached 413 with 152 people still reported missing as the rescue operations entered the ninth day on Wednesday.
A rescue team of over 1,000 personnel from the Defence forces, NDRF, SDRF, police, fire services, and volunteers began their search early Wednesday morning in the four worst-affected areas: Churalmala, Velarimala, Mundakayil, and Punchirimadom.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stated that the search operations will continue until the Defence forces decide otherwise. The current efforts are focused on areas where people lived and became marooned following the unprecedented natural disaster that struck Kerala on July 30.
CM Vijayan highlighted the grim situation on Tuesday, noting that 76 bodies and numerous body parts have been recovered from the Chaliyar River in Nilambur, Malappuram district. The Chaliyar River originates in Wayanad district. On Wednesday, rescue teams continued their search along the Chaliyar River.
More than 100 relief camps, mostly set up in educational institutions around the affected areas, are currently sheltering over 10,300 people.
Initially, there was a unified focus on rescue, relief, and rehabilitation efforts, but now political tensions have arisen. Union Minister for Environment Bhupender Yadav described the disaster as man-made, prompting criticism of CM Vijayan. The Congress-led opposition has demanded that the funds pouring into the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund be properly utilized, unlike in 2018.
Congress veteran and the country’s longest-serving Defence Minister, A.K. Antony, has called for a focus on rehabilitation efforts rather than political disputes in the aftermath of the disaster.
