Death toll rises to 281, over 180 injured in Wayanad landslides

In Kerala, with the launch of the 190 ft long Bailey bridge across the rivulet at Chooralmala last evening, more men and machinery are being moved to the landslide hit areas of Wayanad district this morning. The death toll in the calamity has risen to 281. Over 180 people injured in the landslide are undergoing treatment in various hospitals. 107 persons are still missing. Over 7000 persons have been shifted to 70 relief camps in the district.

Landslide hit area is experiencing heavy rain this morning, which has caused some delay in launch of the search operations. The affected area has been divided into six zones, where 40 teams will be engaged to look out for more bodies among the debris. The



first zone comprises Attamala and Aranmala areas, while the second zone is Mundakkai, and the third zone, Punchirimattom. 

Search operations will also take place at Vellarmala Village Road, which has been designated as the fourth zone. The fifth zone is the Vellarmala Government HIgher Secondary School area and the sixth, the downstream areas of the small river. Besides the armed forces and the NDRF and other agencies, each team will have three local people and a forest official. Dog squads are also being utilised for the search operations. Meanwhile, the authorities are also on the lookout on a 40 km stretch along Chaliyar river for more bodies.