Wayanad: Massive search operations are underway in and around the Chaliyar river that flows from Wayanad to Malappuram where 172 dead bodies were recovered. Today, a team including NDRF, army, police with the help of various NGOs and scuba diver experts have intensified its search in a 40 kilometer stretch of the river.
The rescue team members say that the people were swept away in the flash floods, reached the ‘Soochippara’ water falls and was carried away for nearly 10 kilometers and was found near Nilambur and adjacent areas by the locals and those residing on the banks of the river.
Pothukallu police sub inspector Mohandas said, “We haven’t found any body with all parts intact. Since they were swept away by water for over 12 km, some of the body parts were bloated and left unrecognisable. We are filing the First Information Reports (FIR) for each body now.
Most of the bodies that were retrieved from the various tributaries of the Chaliyar river. On the first day of search operation nearly 32 bodies were recovered from the river.
“Currently we are searching in all the tributaries of the Chaliyar river. We have been called by the Kozhikode district administration to assist the NDRF and the army units. We have decided to check in each and every point where the river flows as it reaches the Malappuram district”, said Rafeeq Thottumukkam to News9.
Many dismembered bodies were found in Pothukallu panchayat in Malappuram which is 90 kilometers by road from the landslide spot and 14 kilometers along the riverside.
Rescue operation members say that that people who were drowned were taken by the Mundakkai river stream till the Soochippara waterfalls and from there they were drowned till Pothukallu where their bodies are expected to hit the large stones and move through the steep falls.
“Now we are trying to locate people through their last tower locations. However, with the stream current very high, chances of survival are very less”, said Krishna Kumar, a resident of Mukkam in Kozhikode who had joined the search operation along with his friends along the Chaliyar river.
The rescue team members say that the people were swept away in the flash floods, reached the ‘Soochippara’ water falls and was carried away for nearly 10 kilometers and was found near Nilambur and adjacent areas by the locals and those residing on the banks of the river. Kerala States News India: Top News India, States News, States News Headlines, Online State News India, State Politics news
