Wayanad Landslides: Death Toll Rises to 404, Mass Burials Continue on Day 8 — Updates

On the rescue operations, MR Ajith Kumar, ADGP, Law & Order Kerala said, rescue and search operation was getting into the last phase and land area was almost covered except for the slushy area.

Rescue workers in PPE kits conduct mass cremation of the unidentified people who lost their lives in the recent landslides at Pithumala burial ground in Wayanad

Source : PTI

The Kerala government has begun conducting mass burials for unidentified victims of the devastating landslide that struck the Mundakkai and Chooralmala regions in Wayanad on July 30. As of Tuesday, authorities have recovered 222 bodies and 182 body parts, bringing the total number of deceased to 404.

In a solemn ceremony earlier on Monday, the District Administration held mass burials in Puthumala for those who lost their lives and remain unidentified.

#WATCH | Kerala | Mass burial of the mortal remains of the unidentified people who lost their lives in the Wayanad landslide was held by the District Administration in Puthumala, earlier today. pic.twitter.com/M4IDqpUnGG

— ANI (@ANI) August 5, 2024

On the rescue operations, MR Ajith Kumar, ADGP, Law & Order Kerala said, "Rescue and search operation is getting into the last phase now. Land area is almost covered except for the slushy area where there are around 50-100 metres of mud. Today we are concentrating on the village office area...we have selected 12 persons...we will air drop the commandos, they will go down and search for the bodies..."

Meanwhile, the landslide has left several hundred people missing. The Kerala government reported on Monday that three migrant labourers are still unaccounted for, and one has been confirmed dead. In the aftermath of the disaster, 406 migrant workers, referred to locally as 'guest workers,' were relocated to various relief camps.

According to a government release, three workers are still missing, one is deceased, and another is hospitalized. The affected workers and their families hail from various states, including Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.

Of these workers, 321 were employed by Harrisons Malayalam Limited, and 28 were working at Rani Mala Tea Estates. The labour department has established a facilitation center to provide food and counseling for the displaced workers, with at least 25 staff members coordinating their welfare.

In a related development, the Kerala government has confirmed the safety of tribal families from the affected areas, who are currently housed in relief camps managed by the SC/ST department. A total of 47 tribal community members, including children, are receiving aid at these camps.

Officials reported that all tribal families from the Mundakkai and Chooralmala regions survived the landslide. Efforts are underway to rehabilitate four families from the Erattukund hamlet. Although these families expressed a preference to stay at the Attamala camp inside the forest, officials had initially attempted to relocate them to camps near Meppadi.