Day 3 Of Wayanad Rescue Operations; Death Toll Rises To 276 (image-X/IaSouthern)
The rescue operations in Kerala’s Wayanad district resumed on Thursday morning as the death toll has increased to at least 276 with over 200 people injured. The devastating landslides that struck the hilly areas—Chooralmala and Mundakkai—near Meppadi in Wayanad. The death toll is expected to rise as more bodies are discovered.
The construction of the Bailey Bridge has been completed by the Army. The bridge is critical for excavators to be deployed for rescue work.
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Personnel of the Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Defence Security Corps (DSC), and the Forest and Fire and Rescue Service helped clear the debris with help from volunteers and rescue equipment, including earthmovers.
State Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan confirmed that at least 240 people were still missing. Over 1,500 people have been rescued from the affected areas. In a high-level meeting held by Vijayan and attended by opposition leaders, issues related to rescue operations, financial aid, and rehabilitation were discussed.
Heavy machinery is immediately needed to aid rescue operations in the aftermath of the landslides that have buried several houses under mud and uprooted trees. The current equipment, such as excavators, is insufficient to handle the massive trees and debris, according to PTI.
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A Command-and-Control Centre headed by Major General Vinod Mathew, General Officer Commanding, Karnataka and Kerala Sub Area, Brig Arjun Segan at Kozhikode for coordinating Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) efforts has been set up by the Army.
Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, KC Venugopal, and Priyanka Gandhi arrived at Kannur Airport and are scheduled to visit the relief camps and the medical colleges to meet those affected by the disaster.
