Kerala to soon release list of missing persons in Wayanad landslides

Wayanad: The Kerala government announced on Tuesday that a detailed list of people who are missing after the devastating landslides hit Wayanad district on July 30 would be published soon. Revenue Minister K Rajan informed reporters that the government is currently preparing an accurate list of missing persons. He emphasised that the government's priority is to ensure complete rehabilitation for everyone affected by the disaster.

"The rehabilitation initiative in Wayanad would be a model for the entire world," he said after visiting the landslide-hit areas of Chooralmala and Mundakkai.

Minister Rajan also mentioned that immediate measures will be taken to assess the extent of damage and losses caused by the calamity.

Meanwhile, the search for missing persons in Wayanad's disaster-struck areas entered the eighth day with a sense of urgency. Special Operations Group (SOG) commandos, alongside the army, are embarking on a challenging mission, through the route through which the debris was carried away, from Soochipara to Pothukal, aiming to locate bodies of those still missing. 

The operation involves traversing three waterfalls to reach Pothukal, a high-risk task. It comes under the Nilambur and Meppadi Forest Divisions, known for their dense wildlife population. Apart from the rugged terrain, attention is also turning to new search areas beginning at Punchiri Mattam and moving downward.

In the third phase of the search, additional bodies were recovered from the Chaliyar River. Approximately 200 bodies remain to be located. Volunteers have been assisting in the search efforts.

Agencies