Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: The death toll in the devastating landslides in Kerala’s Wayanad has reached 413, with 152 people still missing even as the rescue operations entered the ninth day.
The over 1,000-strong rescue team comprising personnel from the Defence forces, NDRF, SDRF, police, fire services and volunteers began searches early on Wednesday morning in the four worst-affected areas in Churalmala, Velarimala, Mundakayil and Punchirimadom.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said that the search operations will continue till the defence forces take the call.
The present search operations are now taking place in areas where people lived and remained marooned soon after the worst-ever natural disaster took place in the history of Kerala on July 30.
The worst thing that has dawned after the tragedy struck the four villages in the Wayanad district, CM Vijayan on Tuesday pointed out was that 76 bodies and numerous body parts were recovered in and around Nilambur located in Malappuram district from the Chaliyar River, which originates in Wayanad district. On August , a team of rescue officials was searching the Chaliyar River.
