Wayanad, 7 July 

The three people who lost their lives in the landslide at the tunnel road construction site in this hill district on Tuesday have been identified as migrant workers from Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand, officials said here.

The deceased were identified as Chandraban, an operator from Madhya Pradesh; Bikash Kumar, a civil foreman from Bihar; and Anmol, a worker from Jharkhand, they said.

Kerala Health Minister K Muraleedharan said the bodies were recovered from beneath the debris after the massive landslide struck the construction site.

The post-mortem examinations were completed at Vythiri Taluk Hospital. To expedite the process, a police surgeon was brought from Bathery Taluk Hospital to Vythiri, the minister said in a statement issued in Thiruvananthapuram.

The health department and the 108 ambulance service were deployed as part of the rescue operations. Nine injured persons were admitted to Meppadi WIMS Hospital, of whom two have been discharged. Seven others continue to undergo treatment.

Among those injured is a site engineer from Ernakulam, the only Malayali among those hospitalised. His injuries are not serious, officials said.

Two of the injured remain in the intensive care unit. One has suffered fractures to the head and both legs, while the other has fractures in both legs.

The Minister said a control room had been opened at the Meppadi Community Health Centre to coordinate medical services.

A total of 142 people from 42 families living near the landslide site have been shifted to a relief camp at Meppadi Polytechnic.

Doctors and other health workers have been deployed at the camp. An ambulance and a medical team will remain stationed at the site overnight even after rescue operations are suspended, Muraleedharan said.

Health department services will continue round the clock, with the response being coordinated by the Wayanad medical authorities, he added.

A CMO source said Chief Minister VD Satheesan would visit the site on Wednesday afternoon.