Search ends on day two, no breakthrough

Kozhikode: Intensive search and rescue operations involving multiple agencies continued for the second straight day on Wednesday to trace the five employees of the contracting firm who were reported missing in Tuesday’s landslip at the construction site in Wayanad.

Despite extensive searches, none of them were found.The affected area was divided into four sectors to facilitate a systematic search, with heavy earthmoving machinery deployed to remove the massive quantity of mud and debris that had accumulated beneath Meenakshi Bridge and around a damaged house along the riverbank. Teams also scoured the river to find these persons.The missing were identified as Dilip Buildcon manager Vikram Rana and engineer Rahul (both Himachalis), Bihar native Mohammed Imran who operated an excavator, surveyors Rakesh Guchaith (WB) and Azharuddin Ansari (UP). NDRF, fire and rescue, police, civil defence teams and other agencies carried out search operations throughout the day amid heavy downpour.

Sniffer and cadaver dogs were also deployed to aid the search.With the removal of mud that blocked Meenakshi Bridge, traffic to Chooralmala was partially restored early on Wednesday, allowing stranded tourists from K’taka, TN and residents to leave the area.District medical officer Dr P M Moideen Shah said the bodies of three workers were embalmed at Kozhikode Medical College and given to Dilip Buildcon. The body of Jharkhand native Anmol will be flown to Ranchi on an IndiGo flight on Wednesday night.

The bodies of other deceased workers will be transported to their native places depending on flight availability.Earlier in the day, ministers AP Anilkumar and T Siddique chaired a review meet at Meppadi Polytechnic College relief camp. Forest department, police and integrated tribal development project personnel were told to shift residents of Erattukundu, Kuppachi, Punchirimattom, Thannilode, Thazhe Aranmala and Ayyappan Kunnu to safer locations as a precautionary measure.A total of 129 people from 48 families were evacuated from Kalladi landslip area and other vulnerable locations and accommodated at the relief camp set up at Govt Polytechnic College, Meppadi. The camp houses 47 men, 48 women and 34 children.