Wayanad: death toll reaches 360 on 5th day; 206 more to be found

Wayanad: The search is ongoing for the fifth day in Chooralmala and Mundakkai of Kerala’s Wayanad, where the major landslides caused massive damage and loss of property and life. The death toll here has reached 360 after two more dead bodies were found today in Chooralmala, and 206 people are still missing.

As per reports, 30 out of the known dead are children. 81 people injured in the disaster are undergoing treatment in various hospitals. 34 are women, 36 are men, and 11 are children. 206 people were discharged from the hospital. 10,042 people are living in 93 relief camps.

Rescue operation divided the disaster-hit area into six zones, and 40 teams are continuing the search. The first zone, which consists of the Attamala and Aranmala areas, was not even accessible till Friday. Mundakkai is the second zone, and the epicentre area of the disaster is included in the third zone.

Vellarmala Village and GVHSS Vellarmala are zones four and five, respectively. The final zone is the river. The search is being carried out by teams comprising the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Dog Squad, Coast Guard, Navy and MEG, which has built the Bailey Bridge. Each team consists of three locals and one Forest Department employee. According to the army, this systematic search was effective.

Actor Mohanlal, who is also a Lieutenant Colonel in the Indian Territorial Army, reached landslide-hit Wayanad on Saturday, donning his army uniform and pledged Rs three crore for the rehabilitation works of the disaster-hit region.

The actor, who reached the Army camp at Meppadi, held a brief discussion with the officers and left for the landslide-hit zone along with others. He visited Chooralmala, Mundakkai, and Punchirimattom, among other places, and interacted with the various rescue workers, including the army and the locals, to understand the gravity of the incident.