Idukki landslide: 15 persons including 12 children still missing

Kochi: One week after a massive landslide swept away nearly 80 plantation workers, employed by the Tata Group, their kin and 6 forest staff along with their shelters, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Governor Arif Mohammed Khan visited the site at Pettimudi near Rajamala in Idukki district.

The landslide had struck at the Nemakkadu Estate in Pettimudi.

Vijayan assured that a new workers quarters will be constructed at Pettimudi and government will provide assistance to help the children continue their education.

On the educational assistance, Devikulam tehsildar Jiji Kunnappillil particularly noted that siblings Gopika and Hemalatha lost their parents in the tragedy. One is studying plus-two while the other has completed plus-two course.

"Both are good in studies. Their education will be taken care of by the government," Jiji Kunnappillil told Mirror.

The siblings are presently staying with their uncle in Munnar. Another girl Vaishnavi lost two of her brothers in the mishap. She is doing plus-two.

The Kerala government earlier announced Rs 5 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased.

The death toll stood at 55. Of them are 24 men, 21 women, 4 boys and 6 girls. No bodies could be recovered on Thursday.

Fifteen including 12 children were still missing, Jiji Kunnappillil said.

Earlier, 12 workers were rescued. Of them seven are undergoing treatment.

Meanwhile, Gomathi Augustine, leader of an all-women union reportedly attempted to block the highway in Munnar during the CM's visit demanding the government to take steps to allot land and provide financial assistance to tea workers to build houses. Police removed her from the spot.

According to sources, since the search and rescue works started on Friday last, a fire and rescue service staff from Alappuzha tested positive for Covid-19. The whole team was asked to go into quarantine. Similarly, a driver of a news channel also tested positive for the virus.

Nearly 80 plantation workers, employed by the Tata Group, their kin, and six forest staff, were buried alive after a massive landslide around 10 am on August 6, flattened their settlement, about 10 km from Eravikulam National Park along the Western Ghats.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the police, fire and rescue services personnel, forest staff and officials from revenue department are involved in the search mission.