On Monday, rescue activities entered their seventh day as the death toll in Kerala’s greatest natural disaster reached 387, with 180 people still missing following major landslides and floods in Wayanad the previous week.
The nearly 1,500-strong rescue team, which included troops from the three defence forces, the NDRF, the SDRF, the police, the fire service, and volunteers, began searching early Monday morning in the four worst-affected areas of Churalmala, Velarimala, Mundakayil, and Punchirimadom.
With so many unidentified bodies, concerned family and friends continue to crowd hospitals where the bodies are transported and stored.
To make matters worse, a large number of mutilated body parts have been retrieved from the debris, and police are analyzing their DNA.
There are over 100 relief camps where close to 9,500 individuals have been evacuated.
As many as 81 persons have been admitted to various hospitals in the district.
The rescue and relief activities are overseen by a Cabinet subcommittee made up of four state ministers.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s request has elicited an overwhelming response, with contributions streaming into the Chief Ministers Distress Relief Fund.
Source:IANS