Wayanad Holds Mass Burial for Unidentified Landslide Victims Amid Ongoing Relief Efforts

Wayanad's district administration organized a mass burial for unidentified victims of a massive landslide, amidst a prayer ceremony of all religions. With rescue operations ongoing, 6759 people have been relocated to relief camps. The death toll stands at 308, with 220 bodies recovered and 180 still missing.

A week after the massive landslides, Wayanad district administration on Monday organized a mass burial ceremony where the body parts of unidentified victims were interred in the Puthumala region. Before the burial, a prayer ceremony encompassing all religions was held.

Commencing at around 3 pm, Kerala Minister K N Balagopal told ANI, 'We cannot give an exact number of missing body parts... There is a mass burial going on for unidentified bodies.'

Puthumala, a village near Chooralmala, experienced a landslide in 2019 as well. Rescue and relief operations in Wayanad have entered their seventh day, with the State Health Ministry reporting a death toll of 308 as of August 2. While 220 bodies have been recovered, 180 people remain missing.

A total of 53 relief camps have been established in Wayanad. According to recent data, 6759 individuals have been relocated to these camps, including 1983 families, 2501 males, 2677 females, 1581 children, and 20 pregnant women. In Meppadi and other gram panchayats, 16 camps have been set up, including 9 shelters and 7 rescue camps, housing a total of 2514 people from 723 families. This includes 943 males, 972 females, 599 children, and six pregnant women.

Additiona rescue camps are operational at SDMLP School, D-Paul Public School in Kalpetta, RCLP School in Chundel, GHS School near Rippon, WMO College in Muttil, Rippon's new building, and Arappatta. The massive landslides, which struck Chooralmala and Mundakkai on July 30, have caused widespread devastation and loss of lives and property.

Late Sunday night, the district administration conducted a mass burial for the unidentified victims, following directives from Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to hold interfaith prayers before the burial. (ANI)

(With inputs from agencies.)