KALPETTA: As rescuers including the army beefed up search operations, more bodies were recovered from Mundakkai badly hit by natural disasters in the form of landslides. It is reported that one more body was found Thursday morning inside the house where a body was found sitting on a chair. One more body has been recovered from Chaliyar River. With this, the death toll has risen to 277.

A machine-assisted search is being carried out to see if more people are trapped among the debris. As more Hitachis have been delivered, the search has been expedited. Dogs trained to sniff out bodies underground are also used in the search. There are reports that the death toll is likely to rise as the search becomes more intense, including at Chooralmala.

Construction of the Bailey Bridge is expected to be completed by noon today. Only then can machines be brought to Chooralmala to intensify the search. Fifteen Hitachis are currently searching Mundakkai. More cutting machines and ambulances will be delivered soon.

Along with the Bailey Bridge, a footbridge is also being set up by the Army's engineering department. The strength of the rain and river flow has reduced, giving relief to the rescue workers. However, the mud filling the entire area is creating a severe crisis. The rescue workers are working hard to ensure that there is no danger.

More than two hundred are still to be found. 8302 people are living in 82 relief camps. The authorities have arranged all the facilities for them. The authorities are also trying to spot the places where the houses were standing by bringing their relatives to the disaster area to find the missing persons. Chief Minister, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi will visit the disaster sites today.

Teary scenes
The scenes in the hospital where the bodies are kept are heartbreaking. No one can pacify those wailing for their loved ones wrapped in white cloth. So far 75 bodies have been handed over to their relatives after completing the proceedings.