Kalpetta: No one is likely to be trapped alive in Mundakkai and Attamala areas, says the Army. 

Kerala-Karnataka sub-area General Officer Commanding (GOC) Major General Vinod Mathew, who is leading the rescue operation, informed this in a meeting presided over by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The meeting concluded that all the survivors were saved. Five hundred soldiers are conducting searches in the Mundakkai and Chooralmala areas, assisted by three sniffer dogs.

The search is on to check if anyone is still stuck. The bodies are now to be found. 

ADGP M R Ajith Kumar said that 1000 policemen are active in the search and 1000 people are active in Malappuram. The problem is identification and culture of body parts. Health Minister Veena George said that the post-mortem starts within three minutes after receiving the body.

'Never seen so many lives lost'

Kalpetta: Army says Chooralmala is one of the biggest disasters in the country so far in terms of range and death toll. Kerala-Karnataka Sub-Area General Officer Commanding (GOC) Major General Vinod Mathew told 'Mathrubhumi' that even in Uttarakhand, which is prone to frequent disasters and landslides, not so many people have died.

"In Uttarakhand, landslides occur very close to villages. 100 deaths are reported. But here two villages were completely buried under the soil. The Army itself recovered a hundred bodies. Many people are underground. The search will continue for several more days. I have never heard of such a large landslide and the loss of people. This is one of the biggest tragedies in India. The most difficult mission we have ever undertaken,” he said.

“Even though people have been swept away, there is a possibility that they are still underground in this village. The chances of being rescued alive are very low after so many days. However, it cannot be completely ruled out. Dead bodies are lying in many places. Army will search everywhere.”

A total of 350 troops arrived here on the first day; With all preparations. There are people from different parts of South India. The first phase of the rescue operation is over. The bridge is being built as part of the second phase. On Wednesday, 160 people from the Madras engineering team came along. They are the ones who build the bridge.

“We reached through very narrow paths. The terrain is a big challenge. Landslides may occur at any time. It is raining. In any case, the army will be here till the last person is rescued," said Vinod Mathew.

K P Shaukathali