Photo Credits - @IaSouthern/X

By K M Roy

Wayanad: A day after devastating landslides struck Wayanad district of Kerala, government officials said as many as 156 bodies have been found while 200 people have sustained injuries. The death toll is likely to go up.

Early Tuesday morning, a series of landslides had struck hilly areas near Meppadi in Wayanad district.

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi, who were scheduled to meet with the families affected by the tragedy on Wednesday, postponed their visit to Wayanad due to incessant rains and adverse weather conditions.

Following the tragedy, Kerala government had declaring a two-day state mourning.

 In an appeal to the citizens, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has urged people to come together to rebuild destroyed livelihoods. "We rebuild lives after the 2018 floods in the state. Let us do it again," he said.

The CM said 45 camps have been set up in Wayanad, with more than 3000 people being rehabilitated.

Official sources said rescue efforts are in full swing.

Over 50 bodies were recovered from the Chaliyar River. The bodies are being kept at the Government Hospital in Nilambur.

Officials said the Army has deployed 200 soldiers from the Defence Security Corps and a medical team to assist with the rescue efforts.

Officials said couple from Karnataka who were working in a tea estate near Wayanad, Kerala, were among the deceased in the massive landslides that rattled the district on Tuesday.

The deceased identified as Rathnamma, 45, and her husband Rajendra, 55, are residents of Nagavalli village in Karnataka’s Chamarajanagar taluk, authorities said.