Hopes of finding more survivors are fading as rescue operations continue in Kerala. Where massive landslides have killed 182 people, according to officials. Thick torrents of mud and water flattened the Mundakkai and Chooralmala areas in Wayanad district, India, on Tuesday. Almost 200 people are still missing.
Heavy Rain Impairs Rescue Efforts
Heavy rains throughout the week have severely disrupted rescue operations in the region. The army is building a temporary bridge to Mundakkai across a swollen river to enable access for stranded residents and search for more survivors. Health officials reported 256 autopsies including body parts.
Continuous Alerts and Evacuations
On Thursday, schools and colleges were closed for the day as Wayanad was put on high alert for more rain. Cardamom plantations, tea estates, and popular tourist attractions are what make this hilly district famous. Almost 1600 individuals had been protected from towns and tea bequests impacted via avalanches, yet numerous transient specialists from the homes were all the while missing, authorities said. More than 8,000 people have been relocated to 82 relief camps set up in the district, according to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
Bridging Gaps and Rescuing More
A temporary metal bridge is being constructed by the army over one of the worst affected by landslides at Mundakkai village. Earlier rescuers had made a temporary pedestrian bridge across the river using ropes to rappel down to reach stranded people and move the injured to hospitals However, heavy rains and strong river currents made full-fledged rescue work difficult. The temporary metal bridge is expected to be completed by Thursday evening, allowing ambulances and heavy machinery to move rubble and search for survivors, Major General Vinod Mathew told reporters.
Air Force and Canine Assistance
The air force is conducting sorties to identify areas with survivors and distribute relief material. Three army sniffer dogs were expected to reach the disaster zone to help detect people still trapped under the rubble. “Still large areas are to be explored and searched to find out whether live people are there or not,” senior police officer MR Ajith Kumar told AFP news agency on Wednesday.
Harrowing Scenes at Relief Camps
TV footage showed harrowing scenes at relief camps and hospitals as survivors searched for their loved ones or waited for news of them. One man listed out names of those who had still not been found as he told Manorama News, “My house was spared but I have lost many children who were like my own.” At a community center that had bodies displayed for identification, a young man told The NewsMinute that he had identified two of his uncles but was still searching for seven other relatives. “I am in touch with people at other centers where bodies are placed and they are sending me pictures, but I am yet to identify any of my other missing relatives,” he told the news site.
Preparing for More Rain
With more heavy rainfall forecast for the district, the government has warned residents to be prepared for flash floods.
