Union Home Minister Amit Shah said in a statement issued in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday that the Kerala government was already warned about possible landslides in the hilly areas of the state on July 23 and 24. At least 185 people have died so far in the devastating landslides in Wayanad district. According to the latest reports, 196 people have been injured while hundreds of others are stranded. Apart from this, 225 people are reported missing. Authorities have issued a warning that landslides may occur again in the region.
The Indian Army on Tuesday intensified its efforts to rescue people trapped after multiple devastating landslides hit Wayanad in Kerala, claiming over a hundred lives and injuring several others.
According to sources at the Information and Public Relations Department (PRD) control room in Wayanad, 96 victims have been identified, including 77 men, 67 women and 22 children.
Kerala landslide: Massive rescue operation underway in Wayanad, over 1,500 people rescued
The construction of Bailey bridges to connect landslide-hit areas, where many people are feared trapped, along with the deployment of sniffer dogs and over 1,000 rescuers from central and state emergency response teams carrying out a massive search operation, is one of the biggest rescue efforts in Wayanad ravaged by the deadly disaster. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday said the coordinated and extensive rescue operation by the NDRF, Army and other agencies ensured that over 1,500 people were rescued from the landslide-hit areas of Wayanad district, where 167 people were killed and 191 are still missing.