WAYANAD: After several days of long strenuous efforts to retrieve the bodies of five missing persons in the landslide zone of Puthumala village in Wayanad, a meeting of kith and kin of the missing, people’s representatives and officials was held at Meppadi on Friday. It was decided that the search operations by special forces will end while the local people will continue with the mission for one more day.
The meeting also discussed the future course of action as there is no meaning in continuing the search as more than two weeks have passed since the disaster.
Apart from sub collector N.S.K. Umesh who headed the search operations, Kalpetta MLA C.K.Saseendran, Meppadi panchayat president K.K. Sahad, forest department personnel, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Fire and Rescue officials, revenue department staff, political party members and officials of National Rural Health Mission participated in the meeting.
Sub collector N.S.K. Umesh said that all the families were happy with the efforts taken so far. They have consented to stop further search operations and also appreciated the sincere efforts taken by all officials and people’s representatives, he said.
One relative of a missing person suggested that a particular spot where his dad could have been buried can be searched for just one more day. So the team has decided to do that on Monday, deputing the Fire and Rescue team to lead the mission. The NDRF teams will be sent back.
DNA sampling result of a body for which two families raised claims will be received soon.
The delay is due to the highly decomposed condition of the body, Mr Umesh said. A final meeting will be held on Monday after the final search operations.
