On the seventh day since the landslide, the Kerala government estimated that the official death toll was 222 in Wayanad. Meanwhile, search for survivors and bodies entered its seventh day.
The dead included 37 little ones and 88 females. Relatives have identified 172 of them. In the mud-covered detritus of the massive earthfall that wiped out Chooralmala, Mundakkai and Attamala localities on July 30th, rescue workers retrieved 180 body parts.
Forensic doctors performed autopsies on these bodies and body parts and collected DNA samples to identify them. At least 206 individuals were still unaccounted for. Officials stated that there will be more deaths as search teams scour larger areas.
According to Forest Minister A K Saseendran who addressed journalists in Wayanad, four points had been sought out by experts using drones equipped with ground penetrating radars.
In his words, those chosen areas include either side of Bailey Bridge, which links Chooralmala and Mundakkai across Iruvanhipuzha River.
At present entry into disaster zone is restricted by state government. Over here nearly one thousand five hundred personnel from Government are moving about to find bodies. As well as clues such as ID cards or valuables pointing at who they are among missing persons.
Voluntary organizations can distribute food outside the “protected zone” only after obtaining permission from food safety department officials. It also had a community kitchen that provided food for people involved in search operations including drone operators who fly food over distanced spots within disaster zones where rescue equipment was stationed including bulldozers and others
On Monday Revenue Minister K Rajan said District administration would cremate/inter 31 unclaimed dead bodies and 158 body parts. Before burial they would Offer joint prayers led by representatives from all major faiths.
Opposition leader V D Satheeshan urged Narendra Modi-government to term Wayanad landslide as natural calamity. Or, classify the catastrophe at least as an L3 disaster.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is now chairing an online meeting of the cabinet sub-committee in charge of Wayanad’s search, rescue and relief operations.
Those attending will be Revenue Minister K Rajan, Forest Minister A K Saseendran, PWD Minister Muhammad Riyaz and Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes Development Minister O R Kelu.
