Wayanad, 10 July (H.S.) :The death toll in the Kalladi landslide in Kerala's Wayanad district has risen to seven after rescue teams recovered another body from the Meenakshi River during search operations on the fourth day of the disaster.

The body was identified as that of Ragesh Guje, a native of West Bengal who had been reported missing after the landslide. With the latest recovery, only one person remains unaccounted for.

Rescue teams have divided the affected area into four search zones to intensify efforts to locate the missing worker. Search operations have been concentrated near a bridge after sniffer dogs indicated the possible presence of human remains in the area. Authorities said the operation would continue until the last missing person is traced.

Meanwhile, two workers who sustained serious injuries in the landslide remain in critical condition and are undergoing treatment at hospital.

Separately, the Kerala government has submitted a detailed report to the Kerala High Court on the disaster, placing responsibility on the contractor for allegedly failing to comply with safety directions issued before the incident.

According to the report, the State Disaster Management Authority had instructed the contractor on May 26 and again on June 4 to remove accumulated soil and debris and ensure that waste material did not pose a threat to nearby residents. The government told the court that it had also directed the contractor to strengthen safety measures a day before the landslide occurred.

The report stated that the scale of the tragedy was reduced because of timely intervention by government agencies, while heavy rainfall was identified as the immediate trigger for the landslide. It also said authorities would examine whether the contractor had complied with environmental clearance conditions. Two independent committees have been appointed to investigate the incident.

Hearing the matter, Justice A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar directed the State government to bear the medical expenses of those injured in the disaster and ensure that compensation announced for the families of the deceased is disbursed without delay.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman