THIRUVANANTHAPURAM/KOZHIKODE: With the recovery of one more body, that of a 54-year-old woman from under the rubble in a landslide, the toll in rain related incidents in Kerala rose to 54 today since the onset of the South West monsoon late last month.
The body of the woman was recovered at Kattipara in Kozhikode district, three days after the landslide occurred, official sources said.
With this, the toll in the landslide incident alone has gone up to 13.
Search operations are on by the National Disaster Management Force personnel to find the remaining person, they said.
Kerala Revenue Minister E Chandrasekaran who visited the landslide hit areas at Kattipara and said the cabinet would decide the quantum of compensation for those who suffered heavy losses in landslides and floods He also warned of severe action against those indulged in unauthorised constructions in ecologically fragile zones.
Meanwhile, the Kozhikode District Collector U V Jose ordered an enquiry into the charge that construction of an illegal check dam for a farm atop the Karinchola hills near Kattipara added to the intensity of the landslide.
A meeting convened by minister TP Ramakrishnan and A K Saseendran, co-ordinating rescue operations,directed officials to take immediate steps to estimate the loss incurred by the heavy monsoon rains in the district and submit a report.
The details of the report will be discussed in the next cabinet meeting, Ramakrishnan told reporters.
Meanwhile,officials at the state Control room for Disaster Management in Thiruvananthapuram said the flood situation has improved all over the state with water receding from almost all areas.
People have started moving back to their homes from relief camps, they said.