Seven days following the catastrophic landslides, the Wayanad district administration conducted a collective burial ceremony on Monday. This ceremony involved the burial of body parts of unidentified victims from the disaster in the Puthumala area of the district. Prior to the burial, a prayer encompassing all religious beliefs was held. Kerala's Minister K N Balagopal, in conversation with ANI regarding the missing bodies and body parts of the landslide victims, stated, "We are unable to provide an exact count of the missing body parts... A mass burial is underway for unidentified bodies." Puthumala, a village near Chooralmala, experienced a landslide in 2019 as well. Meanwhile, the rescue and relief efforts in the landslide-affected regions of Wayanad continued for the seventh day on Monday.
According to the State Health Ministry, the death toll as of August 2 is 308. A total of 220 bodies have been retrieved, and 180 individuals remain unaccounted for as of Sunday. In response to the disaster, 53 camps have been established in Wayanad, housing 6759 people, including 1983 families, 2501 males, 2677 females, 1581 children, and 20 pregnant women. The government has also set up 16 camps in Meppadi and other local councils, comprising 9 shelters and 7 rescue camps, accommodating 2514 people, including 723 families, 943 males, 972 females, 599 children, and six pregnant women. Additional rescue camps are located at various educational institutions and community centers across the district.
The massive landslides that struck Chooralmala and Mundakkai in Wayanad on July 30 caused widespread destruction and loss of life and property. Late on Sunday night, the district administration performed a mass burial for the mortal remains of the unidentified victims of the landslides, following directives from Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to conduct the proceedings with interfaith prayers.
