Death toll in Mundakkai disaster rises to 387, schools in Wayanad to open today

KALPETTA: The death toll in the Mundakkai landslide disaster in Wayanad rose to 387. The search has entered the seventh day to find the disaster victims. 180 people are still missing. The search for the missing will continue today in Mundakkai and Chooralmala. An extensive search will also be conducted today in Chaliyar River for bodies.

The bodies of eight people who have yet to be identified have been cremated. They were laid to rest at Harrison Malayalam Estate in Puthumala. The others will be laid to rest today.

Meantime, the schools in Wayanad will open today after the disaster. The schools where relief camps are not functioning will open today. A holiday has been declared for schools in four districts where relief camps are functioning today. Apart from Wayanad, schools in Thrissur, Malappuram and Kozhikode will remand closed.

A search by the Ibod drone found two places with human remains. Major Indrabalan, leading the search informed that these are near the Bailey bridge built by the army. The dog squad will conduct a search here today. The search by the Ibod will continue today.

Two more bodies were recovered from Parappanpara and Nilambur during the search till yesterday evening. Seven body parts were recovered from Nilambur and one from Soochipara. Eight bodies were recovered from the Chaliyar River alone.

Apart from 11 dogs, four more will arrive today to search for the bodies. 1382 people including soldiers are serving in the disaster area. Food from outside is not allowed inside the camp. 136 counsellors are working in the camp. It has also been decided not to take pictures of the children in the camp.