Search continues at Wayanad landslide site; rescue teams use sniffer dogs, earth movers
Wayanad, July 10
Search and rescue operations are underway at the site in Wayanad where a landslide occurred on July 7, with sniffer dogs and earth movers deployed to assist teams in locating victims.
The death toll in the Wayanad landslide has increased to six, with rescue teams continuing search operations for missing people.
Rescue teams are carrying out operations amid challenging conditions at the affected site, while machinery is being used to clear debris and assist personnel engaged in the search operation.
Meanwhile, Keralam Leader of Opposition (LoP) Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday criticised the state government's response to the Wayanad landslide, alleging a lack of coordination among ministers and claiming that facts were being distorted regarding environmental clearances for the tunnel road project.
Speaking after visiting the disaster site, hospitals and relief camps, Vijayan said that while he supports the government during the crisis, the information being shared by the administration was inconsistent.
"I had visited the incident spot, hospital and camp. I have already said that our support is there to the government in this situation. It is a good thing that the Chief Minister has announced an investigation," Vijayan said.
However, he raised objections to the Chief Minister's remarks regarding environmental concerns in the region and the proposed tunnel road project.
"Facts should not be distorted regarding the issue of environmental clearance being obtained for the tunnel road. What the Chief Minister said in the press conference is incorrect regarding environmental issues in the area," he added.
Vijayan further alleged that ministers were making statements without coordination and were shifting responsibility over the incident.
"Ministers are speaking without any coordination among themselves. They are blaming each other to evade responsibility," the former Chief Minister remarked.
The statements came amid the ongoing search and rescue operations in Wayanad, where several bodies have been recovered following the landslide on July 7.
Earlier on Thursday, the remains of Anmol Dodrai, a young man from Jharkhand's Khunti district who died in the landslide, arrived at Ranchi airport. His grieving family members received the mortal remains, which were later transported to his native village in Torpa block.
Anmol had moved to Kerala five months ago in search of work to support his family. His elder sister, Premlata Dodrai, recalled the difficult circumstances after the family learnt about the tragedy.
The landslide occurred at around 11:15 am on Tuesday within a 200-metre radius of the tunnel construction site at Kalladi in Meppadi Grama Panchayat, burying large portions of the worksite under debris estimated to be 7 to 10 feet deep.
— ANI
Reader Comments
The political blame game is so unnecessary right now. Pinarayi Vijayan criticizing the state government while the search is still ongoing? At least wait till the rescue operations are complete. The focus should be on the victims, not scoring political points. Typical Kerala politics, I guess. 😒
I live in Wayanad and the fear is real. The landslides here have become more frequent due to the tunnel road project and unregulated construction. Yes, we need development, but at what cost? The government should have done proper environmental impact assessments before starting this project. Now we are paying with lives. 😢
As someone who has visited Kerala and seen its beautiful hills, this is really tragic. The monsoon rains are brutal, but I hope the rescue teams find any remaining missing people. My heart goes out to the workers from Jharkhand who lost their lives far from home. RIP Anmol Dodrai.
I'm a former geologist and this is a classic case of human greed over nature. The tunnel road project has destabilized the fragile Western Ghats ecosystem. I've been saying for years that such construction in landslide-prone zones is a disaster waiting to happen. The government must halt all such projects and conduct a thorough review. Enough is enough! 🚫
It's really sad to see the death toll rising. Six people lost in a landslide is too much for a small community. I hope the rescue teams find more survivors soon. Also, a big shout-out to the workers from Jharkhand who come to Kerala looking for work - they deserve
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