This Article is From Aug 18, 2012

Kerala landslip death toll rises to five

Kochi: The death toll in the landslip at Kadavoor in Ernakulam district rose to five on Sunday with the recovery of the body of a man, police said.

Heavy rains lashing parts of Central Kerala had claimed four lives in the region on Saturday- three in a landslip and another who died of a heart attack after witnessing the incident.

Police, fire service and Naval personnel are engaged in search operations since Sunday morning to recover the body of one more person.

Seven houses were damaged in the landslip with huge boulders and mud covering the dwellings. Police said inmates of two houses were not at home when the landslip occurred.

Water Resources minister PJ Joseph, Revenue minister, Adoor Prakash and Health minister VS Sivakumar visited the area to get a firsthand knowledge of the devastation caused due to the landslide.

Mr Sivakumar told reporters that the government would give an emergency relief of Rs 10,000 to the dependents of the five persons killed.

On August 22, after a cabinet meeting, the government would announce a relief package based on a report of the Ernakulam District Collector, he said.

Medical camps have been started in the area.

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