The death toll in landslides in Kerala’s Wayanad district mounted to 277, including 23 children, with 240 people still missing and 213 undergoing treatment at various hospitals, officials said on Thursday.
Search operations led by Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Navy, Indian Coast Guard are underway at Mundakkai, Attamala and Chooralmala to extract survivors from debris.
As many as 8,304 people, including 19 pregnant women, have been shifted to 82 relief camps set up in Meppadi and nearby areas in Wayanad district, officials said, adding that 143 bodies were kept in various hospitals.
The construction of a temporary 190-metre Bailey bridge connecting Chooralmala and Mundakkai by the Army team from the Madras Engineering Group (MEG) is almost complete and its use may begin by noon, official said.
Major General Vinod Mathew told news persons that the Wayanad landslide incident is one of the most extensive damage ever seen in the country and the Bailey bridge will be dedicated to Wayanad people until a new concrete bridge is built.
Revenue Minister K Rajan said two earth movers and machinery, including concrete cutting machines, have reached Mundakkai, and another 15 more earth movers will arrive soon to speed up the rescue operations.
Attamala ward member Sudhakaran said that almost 68 houses were damaged in the Attamala area in the landslide.
