The death toll from the devastating landslides in Kerala's Wayanad district rose to 210 on Friday, with 139 mangled body parts recovered, particularly from the Chaliyar river. Rescue teams are continuing to search the debris of homes for survivors, three days after the disaster struck. The landslides, which occurred between 1 am and 4:30 am on Tuesday, buried densely populated settlements in Chooralmala and Mundakkai, as mud, boulders, and debris swept down through the Iruvazhinji river.
So far, 147 bodies have been identified, while DNA tests have been conducted to identify 207 victims. Over 490 people have been rescued, with 81 still receiving treatment in hospitals across Wayanad, Kozhikode, and Malappuram districts.
On Friday, hope briefly surfaced in Mundakkai when rescuers detected potential signs of life using advanced radar technology. However, despite an intense search and the use of machinery to remove debris, the operation was called off at 9:15 pm without any concrete results. An official involved in the operation noted that a "blue signal," which indicates breathing, was detected, but it remains unclear whether it was from a human or animal.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan expressed a continued commitment to the search efforts, emphasizing the use of radars to detect even the slightest movements amidst the rubble. "Amid the darkness and rubble of the collapsed building, rescuers continue their efforts, determined to find any remaining survivors," Vijayan said in a Facebook post.
The state government has organized a comprehensive search operation, with rescue personnel divided into 40 teams covering six zones, including the Chaliyar river. The Coast Guard and a rescue team from Tamil Nadu have joined efforts along both banks of the river up to Nilambur, where most remains have been recovered. The construction of a bailey bridge by the army facilitated the movement of large machinery, including earthmovers, into previously inaccessible parts of Mundakkai. These earthmovers are crucial for separating debris and recovering bodies.
On Friday, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra visited the district. They held meetings with panchayat officials and announced that the Congress party would commit to building 100 homes for the victims of the tragedy.
