At least 256 people have died and over 200 were injured after massive landslides struck the hilly areas near Meppadi in Kerela’s Wayanad, Health Minister Veena George said.
The Army has rescued around 1,000 people and over 190 people are still missing, news agency PTI reported.
Three landslides struck Wayanad on Tuesday following heavy rain. Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Noolpuzha villages in the district were the worst affected due to the landslides.
A Command and Control Centre has been set up in Kozhikode by the Army for coordinating Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) efforts, PTI reported.
The rescue operations resumed on the third day with teams of the Army, Navy and coast guard carrying out rescue operations along with the NDRF and other agencies. A dog squad would be attached to each of the teams, PTI said.
Wayanad landslides: Latest developments
A temporary Bailey bridge in Chooralmala is being constructed by the Army’s Engineer Task Force from Madras Engineer Group, the Army said in a post on X.
An Indian Air Force plane carrying another set of a 110-feet Bailey bridge and three search and rescue dog teams have landed in Kannur to aid in the search operations.
A total of 225 Army personnel were the first responders and conducted search and rescue operations with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and other agencies.
An all-party meeting, chaired by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, will be held in Wayanad on Thursday.
An NDRF personnel was quoted by ANI as saying that there were chances of another landslide as heavy rainfall continued in the district. Helpline numbers 9656938689 and 8086010833 have been issued.
The Indian Meteorological Department has predicted more rain for Wayanad and several other districts over the next couple of days. A red alert for heavy rain has been issued for Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasargod districts.
Several countries, including the US, Russia, China and Iran, expressed condolences over the deaths due to landslides.
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will visit the relief camps in Wayanad on Thursday.