Kerala Landslides: Rajnath Singh Speaks To Army chief

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday spoke to Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi to take stock of rescue and relief works being undertaken by Army units in Kerala's landslide-hit Wayanad.

According to local authorities in Wayanad, 23 people were killed in the landslide.

The defence minister spoke to the Army chief on the overall situation, officials said.

The Army received a requisition for providing aid to civil authority this morning, an Army official said.

In response the Army has mobilised its units.

The total strength of the Army deployed so far for the rescue operation is approximately 225, including medical personnel, the official said.

Amidst the heavy rain, multiple NDRF teams, two helicopters and other rescue teams are on their way to Mundakkai, which has been totally cut off by a devastating landslides that rocked Wayanad district, the state government said on Tuesday.

As of now, the official death toll in Wayanad landslides which occurred in the wee hours of Tuesday has gone up to 23 including children and women. Authorities expect the toll to increase.

Over 70 are admitted to various hospitals and several people are stranded in many places of Wayanad which is receiving heavy rainfall.