Millennium Post

Search operations in Wayanad landslide-hit areas enter 10th day

Cadaver dogs, Air Force helicopter­s deployed in search efforts

Search operations in the landslides-hit areas of this north Kerala district continued for the 10th day with more cadaver dogs being pressed into service on Thursday to look for remains buried deep under the debris that cover the disaster sites.

Using Air Force helicopter­s to drop special search teams to inaccessib­le areas along the Chaliyar river and deploying more rescuers, heavy machines and K9 dog squads in the segregated six zones of disaster-hit Chooralmal­a and Mundakkai continued. Till Wednesday, the number of persons suspected to be missing in the landslides was around 138 with more than 226 confirmed to be dead. Besides that, 192 body parts were also recovered from the disaster-hit areas and the Chaliyar river till August 7, according to figures provided by the Wayanad district administra­tion.

As the search operations progress, the state government

is also working to ensure temporary rehabilita­tion of those affected by the landslides.

A Cabinet sub-committee, camped out at Wayanad, on Wednesday said that the rehabilita­tion will be carried out in three phases. The first phase will involve immediate, but temporary settlement of the victims and survivors to vacant houses, quarters, flats and hostels within the panchayat limits of the affected areas or nearby panchayats.

Additional­ly, rental houses or flats will be found and provided at government expense, the committee had said. Buildings and facilities under the government will also be utilised for this purpose, it had said. The temporary rehabilita­tion is being carried out to free the schools where relief camps are being run in order to resume classes there, the committee had said.

The second phase would involve the implementa­tion of a temporary transit home system before people are shifted to their permanent homes. For this, suitable places will be found and accommodat­ions will be prepared using prefab technology, the committee had further said.