Wayanad (Kerala) [India], August 1 (ANI): Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan arrived in Wayanad on Thursday morning, where landslides wreaked havoc, claiming over 100 lives.
Chief Secretary V Venu and DGP Shaik Darvesh Sahib accompanied the Chief Minister on the helicopter from Thiruvananthapuram.
CM Vijayan reached Kalpetta in Wayanad in the morning and is expected to meet officials to review the situation at the landslide-hit sites. He will, later in the day, visit the site where the rescue operations are underway.
Kerala Minister K Rajan said that more than 1600 forces are involved in the rescue operations currently.
“Social workers are also involved. CM arrived at Kalpetta. There will be a meeting with officials. He will visit this spot after that,” Minister Rajan told ANI.
According to the Defence officials, soldiers of 122 Infantry Battalion of Territorial Army from West Hill Barracks, Calicut commenced search and rescue operations from Vellarimala towards Attamala through severely landslide affected areas.
The Indian Army has ramped up its rescue operations, successfully evacuating several people from affected areas to safety. Troops from the Army’s Madras Sappers constructed an improvised 100ft foot bridge overnight and opened it to the public. The bridge will further aid the rescue operations and assist in the quick evacuation of stranded people.\
Meanwhile, speaking to ANI, Major General VT Mathew, General Officer Commanding, Karnataka and Kerala Sub Area, said that the construction of the bridge would allow the Army to bring heavy equipment to the rescue site.
“Almost all those who needed help were rescued, and now we need to get into the houses and see if people are trapped there, for that we need heavy equipment. The bridge construction will be completed shortly, and after that, we will be able to bring the heavy equipment to the site and start looking for people. We have been doing the bridge construction day and night, and it will change the dynamics of the search and rescue operation. We will also use our dog squad; 500 plus Army personnel are on the job,” he said.
Major General Mathews said that on Thursday, more than 100 bodies were recovered after multiple devastating landslides struck Wayanad in Kerala, adding that over 500 Army personnel are engaged in the search and rescue operation.
“We have been here supporting the Kerala government and people since the 30th July morning. We have recovered 100+ bodies, and the overall body count is much more. We have also rescued many people,” he said.
Two massive landslides struck Mundakkai and Churalmala in Wayanad in the early hours of July 30, causing extensive destruction, and 167 people were declared dead in the aftermath of the landslides, as per the Kerala Revenue Department.
Meanwhile, Kerala Health Minister Veena George informed that over 154 bodies to the district administration.”We have handed over 154 bodies to the district administration. We are taking genetic samples of the recovered body parts. Our CM asked for the support of the Army and Airforce and we were provided with that support. CM will come to Wayanad today and will convene an official meeting,” Veena George said.
The death toll in the Wayanad landslides climbed to 167 on Thursday, with people injured, marooned, and missing, as per the Kerala Revenue Department.
According to sources from the Department of Information and Public Relations (PRD) Control Room in Wayanad, 96 victims have been identified, including 77 men, 67 women, and 22 children. Post-mortem examinations have been conducted on 166 bodies and 49 body parts. A total of 75 bodies have been handed over to relatives.
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the victims and Rs 50,000 each for the injured. (ANI)
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