Kerala landslides claim 220 lives as search for 191 missing continues

Death toll in the devastating landslides that hit southern Indian state of Kerala rose to 220 as search for 191 missing faced difficulties due to tough weather conditions. According to "Media One Television" death toll due to massive landslides that hit Mundakai and Chooralmala villages in the hilly Kerala district of Wayanad on Tuesday rose to 220 as coordinated efforts to find another 191 missing are progressing slowly due to extreme bad weather conditions. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told a press conference that this disaster is considered one of the worst natural calamities that the state has witnessed and appealed to support the rescue and rehabilitation efforts. He said that various state and central authorities are working hard to find the dead, treat the injured and rehabilitate the affected. Police, Army, Navy, Airforce and National Disaster Response Force personnel along with the locals are continuing their efforts to find around 191 missing people. Several rehabilitation centers were set up at different places in Wayanad. Rescue efforts are facing hurdles as entire areas have been devastated sweeping away roads, electricity, bridges and infrastructure. Several dead bodies were recovered from the site of the tragedy while dozens of others were fished out from Chaliyar river some 30 kilometres away from the landslides. The development came as the central weather authorities warned that most part of Kerala will receive heavy to very heavy rainfall in the coming days. Source: Kuwait News Agency