The rescue operations in landslide-affected four villages of Kerala's Wayanad entered the eighth day on Tuesday with the death toll reaching 402 and around 170 still missing.
The over 1,200-strong rescue team comprising personnel from all the Defence forces, NDRF, SDRF, police, fire services and volunteers began searches early in the morning in the four worst-affected areas in Churalmala, Velarimala, Mundakayil and Punchirimadom.
Special teams have been searching in the Chaliyar River from where several bodies and dismembered body parts were recovered in the past few days.
DNA tests are being conducted on all such body parts.
In over 100 relief camps, mostly set up in various educational institutions in and around the affected areas, over 10,300 people have been housed.
State Revenue Minister on Tuesday said the Local Self Government ( LSG) department has now been asked to give a list of buildings belonging to the government besides identifying homes that are presently locked and also information about the number of resorts in the locality.
“The State Education Minister V. Sivankutty is reaching here and we will soon decide on how the educational needs will go ahead. The standard operating procedures will be in place. At the moment most of these relief camps operate in educational institutions. Once we get the list from the LSG department, we will move the people to resorts, closed homes and such places,” said Rajan.
“We assure that none of the people in the affected places will be left uncared. The weekly cabinet meeting will be held online on Wednesday, where more decisions with regards to rehabilitation will be made and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will announce it,” added Rajan.
Even as the rescue operations entered the eighth day, this will go on till the Army takes a final call.
Meanwhile, help is pouring into the Chief Minister Distress Relief Fund and the decision has come that all state government employees will contribute their salaries of five days to it.
PM Modi condoles demise of eminent philanthropist and spiritual leader Prince Karim Aga Khan
Calling him a visionary who dedicated his entire life to service and spirituality, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday condoled the demise of noted billionaire philanthropist and spiritual leader Prince Karim Aga Khan IV.
57.70 per cent voter turnout recorded in Delhi Assembly polls
Voting to pick a new 70-member Delhi Assembly continued peacefully on Wednesday as the turnout touched 57.70 per cent till 5 p.m. with the ruling AAP eyeing a fourth straight win and the BJP putting up a tough fight to return to power after 1998.
Cultural extravaganza at Maha Kumbh: Renowned artistes to perform from Feb 7 to 10
Following the auspicious Basant Panchami Snan on February 3, the ‘Maha Kumbh of Culture’ (grand cultural festival) is set to resume, bringing together the rich diversity of India's traditions. The Culture Department has set the stage for a spectacular celebration at the Ganga Pandal, over the next four days.
B'desh mission in Agartala resumes visa, consular services after 2 months
The Bangladesh Assistant High Commission (AHC) office here on Wednesday resumed all visa and consular services for Indians after two months, officials said.
RBI likely to cut repo rate by 25 basis points for 1st time in 5 years
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), in all likelihood, is set to cut the repo rate by 25 basis points for the first time in almost five years, aligning with the Budget's objectives of stimulating economic activity while managing a prudent fiscal position, which provides comfort on currency and inflation fronts, industry experts said on Wednesday.
PM Modi likely to meet Elon Musk during US visit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, slated to visit the United States this month to meet President Donald Trump, is also likely to see Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.
First batch of 104 illegal Indian immigrants reaches Punjab
A US military aircraft carrying the first batch of 104 illegal Indian immigrants, with the highest number of 33 each from Haryana and Gujarat, reached Amritsar in Punjab on Wednesday.
Govt begins probe after medicines found dumped on roadside
The Tripura Government has launched an investigation and filed an FIR following the discovery of a large quantity of discarded government-supplied medicines near the roadside in the Durga Chowmuhani area of Agartala.