Three bodies found sitting on chairs; modern equipment needed to take bodies out, says rescue team

KALPETTA: The bodies of three members of a family missing in landslides at Mundakkai and Chooralmala in Meppadi have been found. The bodies were found sitting on chairs inside the house. The rescue team found the bodies during the search conducted this morning. A member of the rescue team told the media that they searched the house after noticing a foul smell coming from the building. He said that it is difficult to take the bodies out and that rescue operations can be carried out only if modern equipment is available.

Landslides occurred five times in the Chooralmala and Mundakkai areas within a gap of a few hours. The landslides occurred at 12.30 am, 1.25 am, 2.30 am, 7.46 am and 2.30 pm on Tuesday. About 80 houses and more than 10 establishments were destroyed. The bridge at Chooralmala was washed away.

About 100 small and big vehicles were buried under the ground. The first landslide occurred at around 12:30 in the night, on top of the hill near the temple in Mundakkai. Soon huge trees, boulders and mud started flowing down the Chooralmala river. Six houses on School Road were destroyed. It was the people at the relief camp at Vellarmala GVHS School who first informed the authorities about the landslide. Following this, the police and fire force rushed to Chooralmala and started rescue operations.