WAYANAD/MALAPPURAM: The official death toll in landslides in Mundakkai and Chooralmala has reached 110 and is likely to rise. At present, the bodies of around 50 people have been identified. One-third of these bodies were found in the border district of Malappuram. It was the searchers who found the dead bodies from Malappuram Pothukal and surrounding areas of Chaliyar.

Some of the dead bodies were washed down the river while some were found by the rescue workers in the interior areas close to the forest. NDRF members and locals conducted a search in the forest. Dead bodies and body parts found in the forest were brought out after overcoming great challenges. Due to the heavy flow in the Chaliyar River, there was a big trouble in bringing people to the other side and shifting them to the hospital.

Residents of Kumbalappara Karuppupetti Vaniyam Iruttkutti Colony in Pothukallu were alerted due to rising water level in Chaliyar River. Those who stayed up at night following this, watching the water rise in the river, were the first who got hint about the landslide in Wayanad. The first thing that came to their attention was the gas cylinders and the wooden logs floating down the river at two o'clock in the morning. With this, they informed more locals.

More than 100 people have been injured in the landslide disaster. Many of those undergoing treatment are in critical condition. A team of NDRF and army crossed the river and reached Mundakkai. 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. Thousands of people including army, fire force and locals are involved in the rescue mission. People have been advised not to go to the disaster area unnecessarily.