WAYANAD: Nearly 100 acres of tea estate land, along with a temple, mosque, post office and the plantation company's canteen, were washed away on Thursday evening in Puthumala, 11 km from the scenic hill town of Meppadi in Wayanad, which is the epicentre of the rain fury in Kerala.
"Puthumala village is no more," said a villager, who survived the landslide. While six bodies were recovered from the debris on Friday, villagers fear another 15-20 people may be buried underneath.
The 100-acre tea estate is owned by Harrisons Malayalam and hundreds of labourers were working there. Officials said search operations led by an 80-member rescue force, including an Army team which arrived from Kannur, have been on from early on Friday morning. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel have also reached Puthumala for the rescue operations.
The bodies of two men, two women and two children were recovered from the spot. One of the women has been identified as Hajara, the wife of Noushad.
KERALA RAIN UPDATES
Helpline numbers issued
Kochi airport operations suspended till Sunday
Red alert issued in 9 districts
Holiday declared for schools
12 trains cancelled
Landslides, mud-slips reported from 24 places including Vilangad, Wayanad
Kakkayam dam shutters to be raised further
Periyar on the verge of overflowing; Aluva on high alert
Cancelled trains include
Ernakulam-Alappuzha Passenger (56379)
Alappuzha-Ernakulam Passenger (56302)
Ernakulam-Kayamkulam Passenger (56381)
Kayamkulam-Ernakulam Passenger (56382)
Ernakulam-Kayamkulam Passenger (56387)
Kollam-Ernakulam Memu (via Kottayam) (66301)
Kollam-Ernakulam Memu (via Alappuzha)