Thiruvananthapuram: The search for persons missing in the Churalmala and Mundakai landslides entered the ninth day on Wednesday.
As many as 1,026 personnel from various units across six zones are actively involved in the search efforts. These include members from the Kerala Police, NDRF, Army, NDMA Rescue Team, Delta Squad, SOG, as well as the Kerala and Tamil Nadu Fire Rescue Teams, K9 Dog Squad, and Forest Department, all of whom are participating in the search and rescue operations.
In the disaster-stricken areas, alongside army units, 524 volunteers across 80 teams are conducting search operations.
Current inspections are underway in Samsimattam, Mundakai, school grounds, Churalmala town, village areas, and the lower river regions. As part of intensification of the search efforts, 54 Hitachis, 7 JCBs, and other machinery are being utilized. So far 224 dead bodies have been recovered including 148 from Wayanad and 76 from Nilambur.
Additionally, 189 body parts have been retrieved, including 28 from Wayanad and 161 from Nilambur.
The community kitchen set up at Meppadi Polytechnic has distributed lunch to 4500 to 7000 persons including rescue workers and those at relief camps.
