Rescue Operations Conclude in Wayanad, CM Announces No Souls Remain to Save
In a somber announcement on Thursday, the Kerala government declared the conclusion of rescue operations for survivors in the landslide-ravaged villages. The catastrophic event, which struck on Tuesday, has left a trail of devastation in its wake.
As of Thursday afternoon, the official death toll stood at 177, with authorities grimly expecting this number to rise. Approximately 170 individuals remain unaccounted for, painting a stark picture of the disaster’s magnitude. The victims identified thus far include 81 men, 70 women, and 26 children, with only 98 bodies positively identified.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, addressing a review meeting in Wayanad’s Kalpetta, stated, “Our tireless efforts over the past 72 hours have ensured the rescue of all survivors.” He further elaborated on the situation in the heavily impacted villages of Mundakkai, Chooralmala, and Attamala, saying, “We believe no living souls remain to be saved in these areas. Our focus now shifts to recovering the deceased.”
In a grim development, rescue teams have recovered 92 human remains, predominantly from the Chaliyar river near Nilambur in Malappuram district. Medical officials report conducting 252 post-mortem examinations, including those on the recovered body parts.
The disaster has taken a particularly heavy toll on the local youth, with 29 students from two schools – a government primary school in Mundakkai and a higher secondary institution in Chooralmala – listed among the missing.
The landslide’s destructive force has not been limited to human casualties. Revenue officials cited by CM Vijayan report 348 buildings sustaining damage in the calamity.
Addressing the logistical challenges of managing the deceased, authorities have established protocols for handling unidentified remains. Facing a shortage of cold storage facilities, Kerala has accepted an offer from neighboring Karnataka to provide additional freezers.
CM Vijayan personally visited Chooralmala to oversee the Army’s construction of a Bailey bridge. This temporary structure will facilitate access to Mundakkai village, where a significant number of bodies are yet to be retrieved.
The Wayanad landslides, triggered by relentless heavy rains on Tuesday, have claimed over 200 lives and left hundreds injured. A coordinated effort involving the Indian Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and local emergency services is underway to locate any remaining individuals trapped beneath the debris.
In a show of solidarity, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and KC Venugopal arrived in Kerala on Thursday to assess the ongoing relief efforts and offer support to the affected communities.
