Wayanad: The day following the catastrophic landslides in Kerala’s Wayanad, rescue teams were observed reaching the demolished houses, searching for the missing individuals.
The death toll had climbed to 153 by Wednesday, with 98 people still unaccounted for.
The most severely impacted areas are Churalpara, Velarimala, Mundakayil, and Pothukalu. The survivors from these localities are profoundly affected by the scale of the destruction.
Rescue operations involving the Army, Air Force, Navy, NDRF, police, Fire Force, and local volunteers continued late into Tuesday night and resumed early Wednesday.
Currently, rescue teams are combing through the rubble of destroyed homes in search of survivors.
In Mundakayil, anxious family members stand vigil outside the ruins of homes, hoping for the rescue teams to find their loved ones alive.
Persistent rainfall is complicating the situation at the disaster sites, where the terrain is now covered with mud, as well as large and small boulders.
The police have restricted access to Wayanad, barring travel without a valid reason, as the roads leading to the disaster zones are becoming congested, obstructing the passage of rescue vehicles.
On Wednesday, the rescue effort was bolstered by the addition of more skilled personnel to expedite the operations.
By late Tuesday night, the NDRF and military rescue teams had successfully evacuated over 500 individuals stranded in various parts of the disaster areas.
To facilitate the rescue operations, Bailey bridges and ropeways have been constructed by the forces.
A contingent of five Kerala Ministers is stationed in Wayanad, overseeing and coordinating the rescue efforts.
