Wayanad: Nearly six months after the devastating landslide in Kerala’s Wayanad district, the Wayanad District Disaster Management Authority has officially declared 32 missing individuals as deceased. The landslide, which struck the Mundakkai-Chooralmala region, had claimed over 450 lives.
With this declaration, the families of the missing individuals will now be eligible for financial aid and housing assistance. The process of providing relief will begin once death certificates are issued to the respective families. The government has initiated the formal procedure to register their deaths and issue the necessary documents.
The list of deceased persons was finalized after a thorough verification process, which involved cross-checking records maintained by a local committee consisting of the village officer, panchayat secretary, and station house officer. The details were corroborated with FIRs filed regarding missing persons and an investigation report confirming that the individuals could not be traced.
The final list will now be reviewed by a state-level committee comprising the Additional Chief Secretary of the Interior Department, the Principal Secretary of Revenue – Disaster Relief, and the Principal Secretary of Local Self-Government. Based on government directives, all benefits extended to the families of those who lost their lives in the disaster will also be provided to the kin of the newly declared deceased individuals.
The massive landslide in Wayanad had resulted in significant casualties, with officials recovering a total of 454 remains, comprising 231 intact bodies and 223 body parts.
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Kolkata (PTI): Police stations in border districts of West Bengal intensified surveillance and searches as investigators suspect the involvement of professional shooters from neighbouring states in the killing of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari's close aide, a senior officer said on Friday.
The police are also investigating the role of local criminals who might have provided logistical support to the assailants, he said.
More than 36 hours after Adhikari's personal assistant Chandranath Rath was assassinated by motorcycle-borne gunmen at Madhyamgram in North 24 Parganas district, the police are yet to make any arrest.
“A detailed investigation is underway. The manner in which the attack was carried out suggests extensive reconnaissance and the possible involvement of hired sharpshooters from outside the state,” a senior police officer told PTI.
He also said all police stations in border districts have been alerted.
"Checks are being carried out at multiple points, and CCTV footage from areas along Jessore Road is being thoroughly scanned,” another senior officer said.
According to probe findings, the gunmen allegedly followed Rath’s vehicle before launching the attack.
“The escape route of the gunmen indicates that they were familiar with the locality, or local criminals might have assisted them. Without local support, fleeing through the lanes so quickly would have been difficult,” the officer added.
The police, however, are yet to ascertain the motive behind the murder.
The police and detective department officers have launched extensive searches in and around Madhyamgram near Kolkata.
Heavy deployment of police and central forces has also been made in the area since the murder occurred on Wednesday night.
"A motorcycle used in the crime was registered in 2012 in the name of a resident of Burnpur in Asansol. However, the police found that no person by that name currently resides at the address given during the vehicle registration process," another officer said.
