Wayanad landslide: Rescue ops in final stage, focus on inaccessible areas
Mangalore Today News Network
Wayanad, August 6, 2024: The search and rescue operation in the Wayanad landslide, which killed more than 360 people, entered its final stages on the seventh day. The focus will now be more concentrated on the Chaliyar river basin and the areas that are inaccessible via traditional means. A special team by helicopter has been deployed to search the waterbody for more bodies or remains.
Six bodies were recovered on the seventh day. As many as 30 bodies and 154 body parts were cremated through interfaith prayers on Monday. Among the 30 bodies, 14 were women and 13 men, and three could not be identified as male or female.
Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) MR Ajithkumar said that the search operations were entering the last stages and on land, the places where the mud is nearly 50 metres deep are left to be scanned.
Here are the latest updates in Wayanad landslide:
1. A total of 1,174 personnel from various forces were deployed in six zones for the search and rescue operation on Monday. As many as 913 volunteers and local residents joined forces in 112 teams, and 137 Indian Army personnel were present.
2. More machines have been deployed to speed up the search and rescue operations. These will be used for inspection in and around the Chaliyar river basin near a school, village and downstream areas. On Monday, dog squads from three forces along with the Army searched in and around Churalmala.
3. Rescue workers have so far recovered 150 bodies from Wayanad and 76 from Nilambur, and recovered 181 body parts, including 24 from Wayanad and 157 from Nilambur.
4. ADGP MR Ajithkumar said that intensive search operations are underway after a week of the tragedy, highlighting that were inaccessible regions along the Chaliya river where some local volunteers were stranded in the past few days and had to be rescued.
5. He further said that local volunteers will not be sent to the inaccessible regions along the river. "We decided to...create two teams of police SOG and army commandos who will be air dropped into those areas. If they find any bodies, the same will be airlifted from there," he told news agency PTI.
The official said that it wasn’t possible to send people and heavy machinery in the areas.
6. Authorities have turned to unmanned aerial vehicles to transport food packets to areas that remain inaccessible by traditional means. They have employed modern drones capable of carrying packets for up to 10 people at a time.
7. The Kerala government announced on Monday that it will implement a comprehensive rehabilitation package for the people of Wayanad. Lands would be acquired, houses will be constructed, and other infrastructure facilities needed for the rehabilitation would be established at the earliest, PTI reported, citing authorities.
8. The Environment Ministry sources earlier said that the Kerala government allegedly approved multiple projects in Wayanad over the past four years, including those related to non-coal mining, without conducting a thorough study of the region’s geomorphology and topography.
9. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced on Saturday (August 3) that his government would construct 100 houses for the Wayanad victims. "I have assured CM Shri @pinarayivijayan of our support...Together, we will rebuild and restore hope," he tweeted.
10. Scientists from Kerala and beyond have attributed the July 30 disaster to a deadly combination of forest cover loss, mining in the fragile terrain and climate change.