As search operations enter the fifth day in Kerala’s Wayanad district, hope is waning for nearly 300 individuals still missing following the catastrophic landslides that struck the region.
Rescue teams are utilising advanced technology and trained dogs in their ongoing efforts to locate survivors or recover bodies from the rubble of one of Kerala's most devastating natural disasters.
However, huge boulders and logs brought by landslides and deposited in the residential areas of Mundakkai and Chooralmala are posing a significant challenge to rescue efforts to locate people believed to be trapped beneath the rubble.
According to state officials, as many as 210 people have died and 273 were injured in the massive landslides that hit Wayanad district in the wee hours of July 30. However, sources familiar with the development have revealed more than 300 deaths due to the landslides.
On Friday, a family of four was successfully rescued from an isolated house near Padavetti Kunnu, providing a glimmer of hope to the hundreds of rescuers tirelessly searching for signs of life amid the devastation.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan took to social media, revealing that radar technology is being deployed to detect even slight movements, further boosting the morale of the rescue teams.
According to the latest updates, the number of bodies recovered from the landslides has reached 210. In addition, 187 individuals have been discharged from medical facilities after receiving treatment.
Nevertheless, the grim reality remains that around 300 people are still unaccounted for, leading authorities to fear that the chances of survival are dwindling.
Approximately 40 rescue teams, accompanied by cadaver dogs, are currently engaged in search operations across six zones affected by the landslides.
The canine units are utilising their keen sense of smell to locate potential survivors buried beneath the debris.
A particularly notable rescue operation involved forest officers saving four toddlers and their parents from a tribal community.
Led by Kalpetta Range Forest Officer K Hashis, the team trekked deep into the forest to reach the stranded family, demonstrating the determination and bravery of those involved in the rescue efforts.
Despite the hopeful moments, search teams faced setbacks. An official involved in the operations reported that a "blue signal" indicating potential signs of life was detected on the radar in Mundakkai village.
However, the search concluded on Friday evening, as personnel determined that the likelihood of finding survivors was extremely low.
The India Meteorological Department has predicted a generally cloudy sky with occasional spells of rain or thundershowers for Wayanad on Saturday, which could further complicate rescue efforts.
International support has been forthcoming, with US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden expressing their condolences and commending the bravery of Indian service members and first responders.
“We mourn with the families who have lost loved ones and continue to hold the people of India in our thoughts during this difficult time,” said a statement from the White House.
A190-foot-long Bailey bridge, constructed by the army on Thursday and handed over to the Wayanad administration, has so far proven crucial in rescue efforts.
The bridge that has allowed the movement of heavy machinery and ambulances to the landslide-hit areas will serve till a proper bridge is built in the area.
Rescue operations are also ongoing along the 40-kilometre stretch of the Chaliyar River which flows through Wayanad, Malappuram, and Kozhikode districts.
More than a hundred bodies and body parts have been recovered from the river and its banks.
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