Rajamala landslide: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan visits site as toll rises to 55

The death toll in the massive landslide in Idukki district rose to 55 on Thursday. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan visit the landslide-hit area on Thursday. More compensation and relief measures for the landslide victims will be also announced by the government.

Thank you for following our live coverage on the Rajamala landslides in Kerala's Idukki. For the latest news, stay tuned to DH.

Idukki: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan arrives in Munnar.

He will proceed to visit the site of Rajamala landslide from here. The incident occurred in Idukki district on Friday last week and has claimed 55 lives so far

Death toll in Kerala landslide goes up to 55

Three more bodies, including that of two children, were recovered from Pettimudi landslide near Munnar in Kerala on Wednesday taking the death toll to 55.

About 15 more persons are missing six days after the landslide that took place late on Thursday.

At present, the rescue workers are carrying out searches in the nearby river. Many bodies were already recovered.

Search and rescue operation of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) continues at the landslide site in Rajamala, Idukki. Death toll in the landslide stands at 52 till now.

Death toll in Munnar landslide rises to 49, over 25 still missing

Several bodies were already recovered from the nearby river. The bodies also started decomposing. Among the deceased, six were working as temporary staff with the state forest department.

Read more here.

Respite for Kerala as rains abate

With a let up in the downpour, water receded in many low-lying areas of rain ravaged centralKeralaon Monday.There was no red alert warning in any of the state's 14 districts as the intensity of rains decreased and the affected areas started limping back to normalcy, although hundreds of the flood-hit people are still housed in relief camps, particularly in Alappuzha, Kottayam, Pathanamthitta and Ernakulam districts.

PTI

Shutters of Pamba dam in Kerala shut

Officials said there was a 30 to 40 cm rise in water level in river Pamba but the river did not breach.

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PM Modi holds meeting with CMs of six states to review flood situation

The states that attended the meeting to review their preparedness to deal with the south-west monsoon and current flood situation in the country are Assam, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala.

Read more here.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) issues orange alert in Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Idukki, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasargod districts today.

Death toll in Rajamala landslide rises to 48, as 5 more bodies have been recovered: Kerala Government - ANI

Flood like situation continues to prevail in low-lying areas of Kuttanad taluk in Alappuzha due to heavy rainfall in the region. The district administration has set up over 30 relief camps where affected people are being shifted in lorries & tractors. - ANI

Red alert in six districts

The IMD has issued redalertof extremely heavy rainfall in Kasaragod, Kannur, Wayanad, Kozhikode, Malappuram and Alappuzha districts.

Rains continue to lash Kerala; landslide toll touches 43

Rainscontinued to lash many parts ofKeralaon Sunday amid predictions of extremely heavy rainfall in six districts, raising concerns of aggravated flood situation in low lying areas, even as the death toll in the recent massive landslide in Idukki district rose to 43 with 17 more bodies being retrieved from the debris. (PTI)

Death toll rises to 42

Death toll rises to 42 in Rajamala landslide incident after 16 bodies were found today: Idukki District Collector to ANI

Death toll in Rajamala landslide rises to 28, following the recovery of another body

Death toll in Rajamala landslide rises to 28, following the recovery of another body: Idukki District Information Office, reports news agency ANI

IMD has issued red and orange alert in various districts of Kerala

The IMD has issued red andorange alert in various districts of Kerala. Red alert issued for August 8 in Idukki, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad andKannur. Orange alert issued for 9th Aug in Pathanamthitta, Alapuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad andKasargod.

5 more bodies recovered from Munnar landslide spot; toll rises to 22

Five more bodies have been recovered from the landslide-hit Pettimudi near Munnar in Idukki in Kerala taking the death toll to 22. According to district authorities, 49 persons were still missing. The rescue operation by NDRF and Fire and Rescue Services that was stopped by Friday evening to poor light and bad weather resumed by Saturday morning.

The death toll rises to 21 as threemore bodies recovered today from the landslide site in Rajamala, Idukki. Search underway for the missing people, reports ANI.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said 15 people who got trapped in the debris were rescued and a special officer has been appointed to coordinate the relief operations.

17 killed, 54 missing in landslide in Kerala; Many parts of state under grip of calamity

As many as 17 persons have been killed and 54 still missing in a landslide at Pettimudi, about 20 kilometres from Munnar, a major tourist destination in Idukki district in Kerala.

Many parts of Kerala are also under the grip of calamities owing to heavy rains over the last few days, posing a major challenge to rescue operations amidst Covid-19 spike.

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Monsoon floods engulf Kerala for 3rd year in a row

The landslide at Pettimudi near Maunnar in Idukki occurred almost exactly one year after Kerala witnessed two major landslides. The state is also witnessing natural calamities in the month of August for the third year in a row.

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The rescue mission will continue during the night. All arrangements have been made to provide enough light at the landslide site in Rajamala, Idukki, says Kerala CM Vijayan

A baby elephant found dead under Achankovil bridge near Pandalam in Pathanamthitta district, Kerala

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi condoles deaths, says he is particularly concerned about his constituency, Wayanad

Heavy rains in Kerala have resulted in floods and a massive landslide in Munnar in which many have lost their lives. This is a terrible tragedy. I urge all our Congress party workers and leaders to lend a helping hand at this time and do whatever they can to mitigate the suffering of our brothers and sisters who are in need of help.

I'm particularly concerned about my parliamentary constituency, Wayanad and I'm closely tracking the situation over there.

The yearly flooding and landslides in Kerala are a grim reminder that we have to work harder to protect our environment and create sustainable development models that allow us to cope with changing weather patterns and extreme climatic disturbances.

Ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakhs each would be given to the next of kin of those who have lost their lives, says Kerala CM

The state government will bear the expense of treatment of those injured due to the landslide, says Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan

Adverse weather condition is slowing down the operations to rescue people affected due to landslide in Rajamala, Idukki, says CM

The state government has sought the help of Indian Air Force but adverse weather condition is not conducive for air lifting people, says Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan

Union Home Minister Amit Shah condoles loss of lives in Kerala

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan lauds the dedication of rescue teams at Rajamala, Idukki

PM announces Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia to kin of those who lost their lives

Ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakhs each from PMNRF (Prime Minister's National Relief Fund) would be given to the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to a landslide in Rajamalai, Idukki (Kerala). Rs. 50,000 each would be given to those injured due to the landslide: PMO

PM Modi condoles the loss of lives in Kerala

Pained by loss of lives due to landslide in Rajamalai, Idukki. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover quickly. NDRF & the administration are working on the ground, providing assistance to the affected: PM Narendra Modi

Rescue work at Pettimudi near Munnar. 15 bodies recovered so far, 51 still missing and 12 rescued.

Death toll in rises to nine in the landslide which took place at Rajamala, Idukki district

57 people still missing, rescue work underway. Eyewitnesses say they heard a loud sound when landslide occurred.

My condolences to bereaved families, says MoS MEA

I've spoken to Kerala Chief Secy & also requested MoS Home & MoS Defence to extend help regrading sending NDRF teams & Air Force assistance that Kerala Govt requested. GoI is ready to extend all help: MoS MEA V Muraleedharan on Idukki landslide

India Meteorological Department issues red and orange alert for heavy rainfall for various districts. Red alert in Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki and Wayanad districts for today.

So far, seven bodies have been recovered from the landslide site in Rajamala, Idukki. The rescue mission is in progress. I will be going to Idukki, says Kerala Minister MM Mani.

Heavy rains continue to lash Kerala, according to All India Radio. The rescue operation is being carried out in the landslide-hit areas.

Seven bodies have been recovered from the spot so far, according to sources.

Five estate workers killed in landslide in Idukki district

Five people were killed when a mound of earth caved in on a row of houses of tea estate workers at Pettimudi in the high range Idukki district early Friday morning as heavy rains pounded the area triggering a landslide.

Police sources told PTI that five bodies have been recovered.

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Kerala Revenue Minister E Chandrasekharan said that there were 82 persons in four hamlets in the landslide-hit area. But it is yet to be ascertained how many are trapped in the debris. No information on casualties was available yet even as there were unconfirmed reports that five bodies already recovered and around ten rescued.

The exact area of the tragedy is Pettimudi near Rajamala.

Munnar MLA S Rajendran told the media that it was difficult to reach the spot as a bridge which provided access to the area was washed away in the rains. "At least 200-300 people live there. There are many lanes and a canteen at the location. We are yet to receive further details. Since one of the bridges to that area was destroyed last night, it has become difficult to access the region," he added.

"Also, those who are there are finding it difficult to contact us because the only mobile tower there is not functioning properly due to power failure," Rajendran said. Workers from a nearby estate have rushed to the spot for rescue operations. (PTI)

Medical teams from Ernakulam and Kottayam districts deployed at Idukki, says the Kerala government.

Five estate workers killed in landslide in Idukki district

Five people were killed when a mound of earth caved in on a row of houses of tea estate workers at Pettimudi in the high range Idukki district early Friday morning as heavy rains pounded the area triggering a landslide. Police sources told PTI that five bodies have been recovered.

Five others who were injured have been rushed to the Tata General Hospital. At least 70 people were suspected to be trapped under the soil, burying as many as 20 houses of plantation workers. (PTI)

Kerala CMO contacts IAF to provide helicopter services for rescue operations

Chief Minister's Office has contacted the Indian Air Force to provide helicopter services to Rajamala for rescue operations. It is expected to be available soon, according to a statement by Kerala CMO.

Five people are dead, 10 others have been rescued in a landslide at Idukki district's Rajamala, says Kerala Police.

So far, 10 people have been rescued. The landslide occurred at a place where tea plantation workers reside. We don't know the exact numbers yet, but at least three families are stranded there, Idukki SP tells ANI.

At least 80 feared trapped in landslide at Rajamala near Munnar

At least 80 persons were feared to be trapped in a landslide at Rajamala near Munnar in Idukki district in Kerala. There were unconfirmed reports that three bodies were recovered from the spot.

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The landslide is said to have hit a camp, which housed at least 80 tea estate workers, according to a report by India Today.

The area has been witnessing torrential rains for the last three days.

On Wednesday, the India Meteorological Department hadissued a red alert for the Idukki, Wayanad and Kozhikode districts."Isolated extremely heavy falls is likely over Kerala and Mahe from August 5-9," the IMD had tweeted.

Kerala Forest Minister K Raju said that the information received from forest officials in the region was that it was a major landslide.

Since the power supply to the region was affected over the last few days, communication facilities like mobile phone were also affected.

A local panchayat member told a television channel that at least 20 houses in four hamlets of workers of a plantation were washed away in the landslide.

The number of people trapped was yet to be ascertained, said a local revenue official.

The landslide reportedly took place during the early hours of Friday. Though the area was around 20 kilometres from Munnar, rescue workers could not reach the area yet owing to the tough terrain and rough weather. A team of NDRF and fire and rescue personnel were rushing to the spot.

Though the place is around 20 kilometre from Munnar, it may take at least two hours for rescue teams to reach the spot due to the tough terrain and adverse climate, local sources told DH.

At least 80 people are feared trapped in a massive landslide at Rajamala about 20 km from Munnar in Idukki district.

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