Wayanad landslides: Toll rises as more bodies are found in Mundakkai village

While around 30 remains or parts of human bodies were retrieved, mainly from the Chaliyar River in Malappuram’s Nilambur region, two bodies were recovered from the debris in Mundakkai village by soldiers of the 122 Infantry Battalion on Wednesday morning. The bodies were shifted to local hospitals.

Rescue workers are concentrating on Mundakkai village which lost its link to the outside world after a bridge leading to the area got washed away in the landslides. The Army is constructing a Bailey bridge to help rescue workers reach Mundakkai.

Meppadi panchayat member N K Babu said Mundakkai had 500-odd houses, however, less than 100 houses remain now.

Massive landslides swept through several villages in Wayanad early on Tuesday morning following torrential rains, leaving behind a wave of destruction. Hundreds were injured in the landslides and thousands were shifted to relief camps. Several people are still missing. A massive rescue operation has been mounted with the Indian Army and the Air Force joining the efforts.