Wayanad Landslides Death Toll Crosses 400, Around 170 Still Missing

Wayanad: While the rescue operations continued on the eighth day on Tuesday, the death toll in the Wayanad landslides in Kerala rose to 402. Around 170 persons are still missing.

Over 1,200 personnel from Defence forces, NDRF, SDRF, police, fire services and volunteers are engaged in the search and rescue operations in the four worst-affected areas in Churalmala, Velarimala, Mundakayil and Punchirimadom.

Special teams have been searching in the Chaliyar River. Several bodies and dismembered body parts were recovered from this river in the past few days. DNA tests are being conducted on all such body parts to ascertain their identities. .

Over 10,300 people have been sheltered in over 100 relief camps.

State Revenue Minister on Tuesday said the Local Self Government ( LSG) department has now been asked to give a list of buildings belonging to the government besides identifying homes that are presently locked and also information about the number of resorts in the locality. Once we get the list is received from the LSG department, the Kerala government will move the people to resorts, closed homes and such places.

Meanwhile, help is pouring into the Kerala Chief Minister Distress Relief Fund and it has been decided that all state government employees will contribute their salaries of five days to it.