Wayanad landslide: Death toll reaches 256, over 200 injured, says Kerala Health Minister
Wayanad: Kerala Health Minister Veena George has stated that at least 256 people are reported dead over 200 injured in the massive landslides that occurred near Meppadi in Wayanad on Tuesday, following heavy rainfall in the hilly region.
The number continues to rise even after three days and 220 people are still reported missing, although the Indian Army has succeeded in rescuing around 1,000 people so far.
Wayanad experienced three landslides on Tuesday, on account of the heavy rain, with Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala and Noolpuzha villages being the worst affected in the district.
The Health Minister has also said that the Indian Army has set up a Command and Control Centre in Kozhikode to coordinate the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) efforts in Wayanad. She added that at least 1,500 Army personnel have been deployed for the rescue operations and the government has also deployed forensic surgeons.
The Indian Meteorological Department has predicted more rain for Wayanad and several other districts over the next couple of days. A red alert has also been issued for Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasargod districts of Kerala.
The Helpline numbers of 9656938689 and 8086010833 are issued in Wayanad.
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Man arrested with Rs 2.54-crore heroin in Mumbai
Mumbai (PTI): Police have arrested a man and seized over 500 grams of heroin worth Rs 2.54 crore in the illicit market from him in Mumbai, officials said on Friday.
The police's Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) made the drug seizure in Santacruz in the western suburbs. The operation was conducted by the Kandivali unit of the ANC on Thursday as part of a special crackdown against drug trafficking in the area, they said.
Acting on specific inputs, an ANC team conducted a raid in Santacruz (East) and intercepted a man. During a search, the team recovered 508 grams of high-grade heroin from his possession, an official said.
The seized contraband, a highly addictive, opioid drug derived from morphine, is estimated to be worth Rs 2.54 crore in the international market, he informed.
Following the seizure, a case was registered against the man under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, and he was formally placed under arrest in the early hours of Friday.
The police are currently investigating the source of the drug and trying to identify the intended recipients of the consignment, he said.
