“220 bodies recovered, 180 still missing”: Kerala Minister K Rajan on Wayanad landslides

Wayanad (Kerala) [India], August 4 (ANI): As the rescue and relief operation continues on Sunday, Kerala Minister K Rajan said that as of now, 220 bodies have been recovered and 180 people are still missing in the landslide-hit Wayanad district.

Addressing a press conference, Rajan said that as of now along with 220 bodies, 160 body parts have also been found.

He also mentioned that there are 34 unidentified bodies while 171 dead bodies have been released to relatives.

“Today one body recovered from Malappuram and one body part from Soojippara. This is the sixth day of the rescue operation. 1382 members from various forces and about 1800 volunteers were part of the rescue operation,” the Kerala Minister said.

“All forces are doing their work and also we have a meeting with the heads of the different forces to analyze the situation. Thereafter tomorrow, the Chief Minister is having a meeting and the chief secretary is having an official level meeting every day at 10 am,” he added.

Meanwhile, Union Minister George Kurien called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday and apprised him of the remarkable relief and rescue operations undertaken by central forces/agencies in landslide-hit Wayanad, Kerala.

The landslides that occurred on July 30 in Chooralmala and Mundakkai of Wayanad have resulted in the loss of 308 lives.

Earlier, PM Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased in multiple landslides that hit Kerala’s Wayanad, following torrential rains.

The search and rescue operations in Kerala’s Wayanad have entered its sixth day on Sunday, as several people are still feared trapped in the debris.

Providing details about the rescue operation, Wayanad District Collector Meghashree told ANI, that the rescue operation is in full swing, and over 1300 forces have been deployed for today’s operation.

“Rescue operation is going on in full swing. Today, 1,300+ forces are deployed…volunteers are also there…yesterday volunteers who went for the rescue operation got stranded there, today we are taking precautions so that it doesn’t happen,” Wayanad District Collector told ANI.

Meanwhile, the Kerala Chief Minister’s Office has informed that night patrolling of the police has been instituted in Chooralmala and Mundakkai areas where landslides occurred.

Action will be taken against those trespassing in the houses or areas of the victims at night, the statement from CM’s office said. No one should enter the houses or areas of these places at night without the permission of the police for rescue operations, it added.