The death toll in the landslide in Wayanad, Kerala increased to 358 on Saturday. Rescue teams are using deep search radar to search for people trapped under the debris and in collapsed houses. The Kerala government had requested the Center to send deep search radar to assist in rescue operations. One Xaver Radar from the Northern Command and four Reeco Radars from the Triranga Mountain Rescue Organization of Delhi were taken to Wayanad by an Air Force aircraft on Saturday.
More than 200 people are still missing. Private companies specializing in search and rescue and volunteers are also involved in the rescue operation. The rescue team is being led by units of the Indian Army, Kerala Police and Emergency Services. More than 1,300 rescue workers are carrying out search operations under the destroyed buildings and debris with heavy machinery and state-of-the-art equipment to search for survivors.
Also read: Flood of pain in Wayanad, how far did the rescue operation reach? See ground report
Mohanlal visited disaster affected areas
Malayalam film industry superstar Mohanlal also reached Wayanad today and took stock of the rescue operations. Let us tell you that Mohanlal is an Honorary Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army. He reached the army camp and interacted with the officials leading the relief and rescue operations. He said that the magnitude of the disaster can be understood only by seeing it firsthand. Army, Navy, Air Force, NDRF, fire and police departments and other organisations, local people who are part of the rescue operation have done a wonderful job.
Instructions for DNA sampling of all dead bodies and remains
The Kerala government has issued guidelines in which dead bodies are to be cremated only after taking DNA and dental samples. As per the guidelines, each dead body or remains is to be assigned an identification number. The police will have to make every possible effort to identify the dead bodies or body parts and if identification is not possible, they will have to hand over the body to the district administration for further action after 72 hours of questioning. Meanwhile, three unidentified bodies were cremated at Kalpatta Public Crematorium. The cremation was carried out as per the state government’s guidelines for burning or burying dead bodies in the wake of the Wayanad landslide.
Also read: Pinarayi Vijayan had claimed not to have received Orange Alert on Wayanad tragedy, Center denied
Six children were rescued from a remote tribal hamlet in Wayanad after an eight-hour operation by Kerala Forest Department officials. Separately, a family of four was rescued from their home in Mundakkai, one of the worst-hit areas due to the disaster. Meanwhile, the Center has issued a fresh draft notification to declare 56,800 square kilometers of Western Ghats in six states, including 13 villages of Wayanad, as eco-sensitive zones, within 60 days. Suggestions and objections have been invited.
Rain forecast in Wayanad till August 6
In this draft resolution, it is proposed to declare 3.7 square km area in Kerala, including 13 villages in two talukas of landslide-affected Wayanad, as ecologically sensitive. IMD has issued a yellow alert of heavy rain in Wayanad for Saturday and Sunday. It is expected to rain in the district till August 6. In such a situation, the rescue operation may be affected. The deployment of Deep Search Radar is expected to increase the effectiveness of rescue operations and help in locating any remaining persons trapped under the debris.