Kerala landslide | ‘Death toll mounts to 26, 39 missing’: NDRF chief

Heavy rains have caused havoc in parts of Kerala. NDRF chief SN Pradhan spoke on the massive landslide that occurred in Idukki district. Pradhan informed that the death toll had climbed to 26 and as many as 39 people were still missing. “We recovered nine more bodies from the mound of debris and slush. The death toll stands at 26 while 39 people are still missing. A total of 78 people were living in that colony. The operations will go on. Our commandant of the battalion Rekha is camping on the site and is supervising the rescue operations. As per the state government's requirements, nine teams will continue to work in flood and rain related incidents in Kerala,” Pradhan said. On Friday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a red alert in Kozhikode district. It had also predicted rainfall in different parts of the state. On Saturday, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the monsoon fury continues to be severe in the state.