KALPETTA: Just one week back, it was a scenic village awaiting tourists from all parts of the world. And now, Chooralmala has turned into a valley of death replete with rocks and boulders. On Wednesday, the death toll reached 250 while flames from funeral pyres appeared on several parts of the devastated land. Many of the unidentified bodies went through the last rites only attended by a few gazed onlookers.

As per the official report. almost 300 people are yet to be found. 195 injured people are in hospitals in Meppadi and many of them are in critical condition. 117 people were shifted to camps after treatment.

On Wednesday, the army led a relentless search operation in the disaster-stricken land marooned by rocks, mud and boulders. Army, Air Force, NDRF, SDRF, Police and Fire Rescue are engaged in the operation. The search involved breaking through collapsed roofs and venturing into mud pits amidst heavy downpours.

Ten dead bodies were recovered from Mundakkai on Wednesday. More than 80 dead bodies have already been found in the Chaliyar River. Most of the bodies are in a ‘beyond recognition’ state. The dead bodies were brought to Meppadi after post-mortem from Nilambur.

• The Bailey Bridge constructed by the army at Chooralmala will be completed today to strengthen the rescue mission.

• The materials from Kannur were brought to Kozhikode on a special flight and were transported to the disaster area in seventeen trucks.

• The construction of the bridge started on Wednesday morning but was hindered due to waterlogging and heavy downpour.

• The work is now continuing at night. Once the bridge is complete, earthmovers can be brought in to speed up the search.

The 24-tonne load-carrying bridge can be used to transport machinery required for rescue operations to Mundakkai. Due to its length, the bridge is constructed by placing a pillar in the middle of the river. The materials required for the construction of the bridge have reached Chooralmala from Delhi and Bengaluru.