Wayanad landslide LIVE: Search continues for missing people, CM announces ₹5 lakh ex-gratia
Wayanad: The search operation continues for five people still missing after the landslide at the tunnel construction site in Meppadi, Wayanad. The bodies of three migrant workers have been recovered and identified as Chandra Ban from Madhya Pradesh, Bikash Kumar from Bihar, and Anmol from Jharkhand.
The bodies will be airlifted to their respective home states later today.
Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan visited Kalladi in Wayanad today, while ministers T. Siddique and A.P. Anilkumar continue to oversee relief efforts in the district. Strict restrictions remain in place around the disaster site, with public access and vehicular movement have been prohibited to facilitate rescue operations.
The landslide occurred near Meenakshi Bridge at Kalladi on July 7, where work on a tunnel road project connecting Kozhikode and Wayanad districts was going on.
Key Updates
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Two among 10 injured remain in critical condition
Two of the 10 people injured in the landslide remain in critical condition, Chief Minister V D Satheesan said. Three injured persons have been discharged from the hospital, while one other continues to be treated in the ICU. The remaining four are fine, he added.
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Search for missing remains top priority: Kerala CM
Teams from the Fire and Rescue Services, police and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have completed the search in Zone 1 and are expected to complete operations in Zone 3 by Thursday morning, said Kerala CM VD Satheesan.
Search teams will also scan downstream areas along the river, he added.
Satheesan said residents living in areas identified as danger zones had been shifted to relief camps as a precautionary measure.
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Jharkhand man's body to reach home on July 9
Officials confirmed that the body of a 25-year-old man from Jharkhand's Khunti district, who died in the Wayanad landslide in Kerala on July 7, could not be brought to the state on Wednesday due to inclement weather in Kerala.
Khunti Labour Superintendent Walter Kujur told reporters at 9.20 pm that they received communication from the Kerala officials that the plane carrying the body could not take off due to heavy rains.
Kujur, along with family members of the deceased person Anmol Dodrai, had been waiting at the Birsa Munda Airport in Ranchi for the arrival of his mortal remains.
"We have been told that the body will reach Ranchi on Thursday morning," the official said. -
Ex-gratia of ₹5 lakhs announced for families of deceased
The Kerala government has announced an ex-gratia of ₹5 lakhs for families of those who lost their lives in the fatal Wayanad landslide at Kalladi.
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Holiday declared for educational institutions tomorrow
In light of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a red alert for Wayanad, the District Collector has declared a holiday for all educational institutions including professional colleges and anganwadis in the district tomorrow.
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KSHRC orders probe
The Kerala State Human Rights Commission’s judicial member, K Byjunath, directed the Wayanad district collector and the public works superintending engineer (roads) to conduct an investigation on tunnel project and submit a comprehensive report within 15 days.
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Kerala CM visits landslide site
Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan has visited the site of the fatal Kalladi landslide. The chief minister assessed the situation and spoke to the families of affected persons.
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No one responsible for Wayanad landslide can escape accountability: Kerala ministers
Kerala ministers T Siddique and A P Anilkumar said that a scientific examination would have to be carried out to determine the actual reasons for the landslide in Wayanad, while making it clear that no one responsible for it would be able to “wash their hands off” the incident.- PTI
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Body of man from Jharkhand to be brought in Ranchi on Wednesday
The body of a 25-year-old man from Jharkhand's Khunti district, who was killed in the Wayanad landslide in Kerala a day ago, will be brought here on Wednesday, an official said.
Ranchi's state migration control room team leader Shikha Lakra told PTI that the deceased has been identified as Anmol Dodrai, a resident of Jariya panchayat area in Patpur under the Torpa block.
Dodrai was among the three people killed in the landslide at a tunnel road construction site in the hill district of the southern state. - PTI
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Cadaver dogs will be deployed
Rescue teams are continuing intensive search operations beneath the debris following the landslide. Authorities have divided the affected area into four sectors to fasten up the search. Alongside the National Disaster Response Force, cadaver dogs will also be deployed to assist in locating victims.
However, continuous rain is a major challenge to rescue operations in the area.
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Contractor denies allegations
The construction company stated that the stockpiling of excavated soil was not the cause of the disaster. Sebastian, General Manager of Dileep Build Co., said that the landslide occurred in the forest area. No soil had been piled up; the landslide took place in the forest zone beyond the boundary.The company has no access to that area. The construction company also states that the construction work is proceeding in a proper manner.
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Five people still missing after Wayanad landslide
- Vikram Rana (construction manager)
- Rahul (engineer)
- Mohammed Imran (excavator operator)
- Rakesh Guchait (surveyor)
- Azharuddin Ansari (surveyor)
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We must stand united with the victims of the disaster: Kerala CM VD Satheesan
Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan said the landslide disaster in Wayanad has deeply shocked Kerala. In a Facebook post, he paid tribute to those who lost their lives and said rescue operations are continuing at full pace. He assured that all necessary medical care would be provided to the injured.
He also urged people to stand together in support of those affected, saying Kerala remains united and stands firmly with the victims.
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Seven people under treatment
Seven people injured in the landslide remain under treatment at WIMS Hospital in Meppadi. Two of them are in the intensive care unit with serious injuries. Six of the injured are migrant workers, while the seventh is a native of Ernakulam.
Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan is expected to visit the injured today. The bodies of the three deceased workers will be airlifted to their respective home states.
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