Wayanad landslide: Death toll at 333 and 288 still missing
The death toll in landslides in Wayanad mounted to 333 on Friday, but the authorities said the disaster may have claimed more people as another 288 people were still said to be missing.
The army and National Disaster Relief Force personnel, operating in teams, rescued four members of a family who survived the rain fury at Padavettikunnu near Chooralmala. The teams were scanning the area with thermal scanners for any signs of life while stepping up their rescue efforts.
The Bailey Bridge between Chooralmala and Mundakkai, sites of the worst landslides, built by the army personnel in double-quick time, will remain in use till the government builds a permanent structure, officials said.
Madras Engineering Group (MEG) constructed the 24-tonne capacity bridge and opened it to the public on Thursday as it is critical for people’s movement and transportation of relief materials and medicines.
The army authorities, in a post on X, praised Maj Seeta Shelke and her team of the MEG for building the 190-ft long bridge in a record 16 hours.
The Thiruvananthapuram corporation announced a contribution of ₹2 crore to the chief minister’s disaster relief fund.
The authorities decided to cremate 74 unidentified bodies at a public crematorium in Wayanad.