Idukki, Aug 7 (UNI) At least 10 people were killed, 85 reportedly missing and 16 persons rescued in a major landslide caused due to heavy rain at Pettimudi in Rajamala in this district on Friday.
Sources said heavy rain has been lashing the area since Thursday night. Ten bodies have been recovered from the landslide spot at Pettimudi in Rajamala of Munnar Grama Panchayat.
As many as 16 persons have been rescued and the condition of four among them is stated to be critical. Those rescued were admitted to the Kannan Devan Hospital here.
Through the incident happened at 0400 hrs, it came to light only this morning due to lack of communication from the isolated area.
A team of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) reached the spot and began the rescue operations.
Airlifting of people is also under consideration as part of the rescue operation provided the weather is conducive, an official told UNI.
Hospitals in neighbouring district areas have been alerted to get prepared for any emergency situation.
In the initial hours, the police or the Revenue department officials were not able to reach the spot as Periyavaram bridge near the area was destroyed in flood last night.
The landslide occurred about 30 kms away from Munnar. The rescue operation got delayed due to poor infrastructure in the area as development activities cannot go beyond a certain point as the area is part of Eravikulam National Park.
Several people, most of them are plantation workers, who lived in 20 homes at Kannan Devan Tea Plantation, are feared buried under the landslide debris.
UNI DS CS 1517