At least 24 people killed in Munnar landslides

At least 24 people were killed and around 43 others feared trapped under the debris after a landslide triggered by heavy rains flattened a row of dwelling units of tea estate workers at Pettimudi, near Rajamala in Kerala’s Idukki district.

However confusion still remains regarding the exact number of people settled in Pettimudi, before the occurrence of landslide.

More National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Defence Security Corps and fire force teams have arrived at Pettimudi to strengthen the rescue operations. Crime Branch IG Gopesh Agarwal has been appointed as special officer for coordinating the rescue and rehabilitation operations in Pettimudi.

According to the Tata Tea Company, where these people were employed, there were 81 people in the housing units. However the district authorities said a total of 78 people were in the area at the time of the tragedy. As many as 12 people were rescued on August 7.

The injured have been admitted to a private Medical College Hospital in Kolenchery in Ernakulam District and Tata General Hospital at Munnar.

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) chief Rekha Nambiar is optimistic about recovering bodies as soon as possible. She said that the landslides were similar, but the situation in Pettimudy is different from that of Kavalappara in Wayanad. Unlike Kavalappara which was a vast area, Pettumudi is small place, the chief said.

Condoling the death of workers in the tragedy, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has announced initial solatium of Rs 5 lakh each for the families of the dead. He also said that treatment expenses for the injured will be borne by the government.

The Center also announced Rs 2 lakh each from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund( PMNRF). Rs 50,000 each would be given to those injured.

Meanwhile red alert has been sounded for Idukki,Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Wayanad on Saturday