The Hindu : Kerala News : Landslip kills four of a family in Wayanad

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Sunday, Jun 24, 2007
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Kerala

Landslip kills four of a family in Wayanad

Special correspondent

Relief announced for the next of kin
Widespread destruction of crops, houses

Kozhikode: Heavy rain and landslips claimed five lives in Wayanad on Friday night.

Four of a family were buried alive in a landslip triggered by heavy rain at Niravilpuzha Valanthode in Mananthavady taluk. The bodies of Shajahan, 42; his wife, Sulphath, 35; and their children, Irfan, 7, and Chakkarakutty, 2; were recovered on Saturday morning. Their house was buried under debris. Local people searched for possible survivors trapped under the mud. It took four hours for pulling out the bodies after the search started around 6 a.m. The road to the place cannot be used because of loose earth.

The bodies were taken to the district hospital at Mananthavady and released after post-mortem examinations. District Collector P.P. Gopi, who visited the scene of the tragedy, announced a relief of Rs. 5,000 to the next of kin of the victims.

Body found

In another incident, the body of Ouseph, 48, was found in a river at Thondarnad village, also in Mananthavady taluk. Revenue authorities have announced a relief of Rs. 2,000 to his relatives.

In Vythiri taluk, two women were injured when a house collapsed. The tribal welfare department will meet the expenses incurred for their treatment. They are now under treatment in a private hospital.

It was only one of the 265 houses damaged in the recent rain. Extensive crop loss has also been reported from district parts of Wayanad.

While the loss on account of damage to houses in the district is put at Rs. 8.5 lakh, crop loss on account of rain and consequent flooding in the predominantly agriculture district, where farmers are in deep distress, is estimated at Rs. 6.5 crore. Minister for Revenue K.P. Rajendran is expected to reach Wayanad on Sunday for an on-the-spot assessment of the havoc.

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