Kerala: Death Toll From Idukki Landslide Mounts To 48, Search Operation On

Rescue workers on Sunday recovered 17 more bodies from the debris in Kerala’s Idukki district, which is battered by landslides and floods. With this, the death toll has mounted to 48. The search operation is still on.

Despite the bad weather conditions, teams of NDRF, fire brigade, police, revenue and forest departments are carrying out search operations to rescue people fast.

According to the NDRF, about 20 people are still missing. Authorities have decided to take help of sniffer dogs to trace the persons buried under the debris.

Pathanamthitta DM PB Noh said on Facebook that continuous rains, landslides and opening of dams have increased the water level in many rivers, especially in Central Kerala. Two gates of Pamba Dam have been opened after the water level rises.

In Kottayam district, a car was washed away in floods, which was pulled out by an NDRF team with great difficulty, however, the driver died in the floods. According to the NDRF, the person who died was identified as Justin, a resident of Angamaly and an airport taxi driver. Apart from this, four people drowned in Kasargod, Kannur, Kozhikode and Alappuzha districts on Saturday.

Currently, the IMD has issued a red alert for heavy rains in Kasaragod, Kannur, Wayanad, Kozhikode, Malappuram and Alappuzha districts. The IMD has predicted 20 cm of rainfall within 24 hours in these districts, although rainfall is likely to diminish by Tuesday.