Wayanad: The landslides in Chooralmala and Mundakkai have cast a shadow of grief over Kerala, with the death toll surpassing 358. Concerns are mounting as over 250 individuals are still missing. Continuous heavy rainfall has forced the suspension of rescue operations, which were scheduled to continue until 4 pm on Thursday.
To aid in the search for survivors, deep search radars will be deployed in the affected areas. The Kerala government has requested advanced radar equipment, including one Xaver radar and four Reeco radars, which are being airlifted from Delhi with the assistance of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan reported that while search and rescue operations are nearing completion, identifying the recovered bodies has been challenging. "We have recovered 215 bodies so far, including 87 women, 98 men, and 30 children. Of these, 148 bodies have been handed over to families. There are still 206 people missing, and 81 individuals are injured and receiving treatment," Vijayan said.
Efforts are underway to rehabilitate the affected areas. Vijayan announced that a secure region will be designated for the construction of a new township. Additionally, the education minister will visit local schools that were destroyed, and measures will be taken to ensure the continuity of education for affected children.
In a show of support, Malayalam superstar Mohanlal, who serves as an honorary Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army, visited the disaster areas. Wearing army fatigues, Mohanlal met with officers, surveyed the impacted locations, and interacted with rescue workers. He praised the efforts and announced that his foundation, the Viswasanthi Foundation, will contribute Rs 3 crore for rehabilitation. Major Ravi, a retired army officer and director at the foundation, pledged to rebuild the Mundakkai LP school.
Meanwhile, a political controversy has emerged regarding donations to the Chief Minister's Disaster Relief Fund (CMDRF). Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala announced he would donate one month's salary to the fund, drawing criticism from KPCC chief K Sudhakaran. Sudhakaran argued that Congress funds should be directed elsewhere and criticized the online smear campaigns against the CMDRF. The police have reported filing 39 FIRs and issuing notices to remove 279 social media accounts involved in these campaigns. Despite the controversy, donations from various individuals continue to support the CMDRF.
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