Wayanad landslide: Death toll rises to 107; heavy fog hampering with rescue operation

WAYANAD: Death toll rises to 107 in Meppadi Mundakai landslide. More than 100 people were injured. Many of those undergoing treatment are in critical condition. A team of NDRF and Army crossed the river and reached Mundakai. If it was the rain that caused the concern so far, heavy fog is obstructing vision now. This is putting rescue operations in crisis.

A discussion was held between ministers and rescue workers at Chooralmala. Ministers K Rajan, OR Kelu, PA Muhammad Riyas, MLAs IC Balakrishnan and T Siddique participated in the discussion.

The discussion was about how to proceed with the rescue operation. The death toll is expected to rise in Mundakai. According to officials, the number of dead bodies that have flown through the Chaliyar River and reached Nilambur has reached 26. These dead bodies are kept in Nilambur district hospital.

There are 52 dead bodies in Meppadi Health Centre. 35 of them have been identified. All five bodies at Wims Hospital were identified. There is one dead body each in Vaithiri Taluk Hospital and Batheri Taluk Hospital. Nilambur district hospital has 30 dead bodies.
The bodies identified are that of Ramlath (53), Ashraf (49), Kunhimoideen (65), Lenin, Vijeesh (37), Sumesh (35), Salam (39), Shreya (19), Premaleela, Regina, Damodaran, Kousalya, Vasu, Ayesha, Amina, Jagadhish, Anaz, Nafeesa (60), Jameela (65), Bhaskaran (62) and Afziya Zakeer. Three children are among the dead and they are Sahana (7), Ashina (10), and Ashwin (14). Many are trapped under the debris. Military, fire force, and locals are included in the rescue mission. The people were directed not to go to the place where the tragedy had happened.
The army’s engineering group will reach Wayanad for the rescue operations. The Army's engineering department will implement an alternative system following the collapse of the bridge. The landslide struck Mundakkai early this morning at 2 am. There were houses on both sides of the river. All houses in this area have been completely washed away. Heavy rains are hampering the rescue operations.
Meantime, the principal director of the local self-government department, Seeram Sambasiva Rao, has been appointed as a special officer to coordinate disaster management and relief operations in the wake of massive landslides in Wayanad. The government issued an order appointing a special officer to coordinate disaster management and relief operations and provide necessary support to the district collector and district administration.