Report/Articles
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yahoo!india news2001/11/11
Search still on, two more feared trapped in Kerala landslide
Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 11 (PTI) Search operations by the fire force, army and the police are still on at the site of the massive LANDSLIDE at Amboori near here, which claimed 38 lives, police sources said.
Two more persons were still feared to be trapped inside the rubble, the sources said.
The 38 identified bodies had been handed over to relatives. In a mass burial, more than ten victims of the tragedy were laid to rest at a nearby church last evening.
The state food minister, G Karthikeyan, is camping in the area to oversee the rescue and relief operations. Two survivors of the tragedy, who had been admitted to the medical college hospital here, were stated to be out of danger.
Those who had a miraculous escape included C D Thomas, at whose house the betrothal ceremony of his son, Binu, was to be held on Saturday. All his family members present there including Binu, were buried alive, except 11 year-old Babby, a close relative.
The state government, after an emergency cabinet meeting last night announced an immediate relief of Rs 50,000 for the kin of adult victims, Rs 15,000 to the relative of each child killed and Rs 25,000 to those whose property was damaged.
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MSN News 2001/11/10 (Japanese page)
Landslide kills 35 and missing 20 in southern India.
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Yahoo asia News 2001/11/10
Landslide kills 40 in southern India
(Saturday November 10, 6:19 PM)
By D. Jose
AMBOORI, India (Reuters) - At least 40 people were killed and 10 missing, feared trapped under debris, after a landslide swept away four houses following torrential rain in southern India, police said on Saturday.
The landslide occurred on Friday night as people gathered to prepare for a couple's engagement in the village of Amboori, 35 km (20 miles) from Trivandrum, capital of the coastal state of Kerala, they said.
The landslide and gushing rain swept away three thatched houses atop a hillock and a concrete house at its base, police official Deputy Inspector-General P. Hemachandran told Reuters.
"We estimate another 10 people are trapped inside the debris. The chances of their survival are slim," he added.
Earthmovers and rescue workers ploughed carefully through the marshy debris in the hunt for survivors. There was no trace of the four houses that were swept away.
Heavy rain hampered rescue efforts during the night, but nine people were pulled from the debris soon after the skies cleared in the morning.
Power supply to the region was cut off and roads were damaged in the hilly area, home to several rubber plantations.
Villagers said most of those killed had gathered in the home of C.D. Thomas, at the base of the hillock, for the engagement of his son, planned for Saturday.
"I heard they were getting ready for dinner and some men were playing cards when the hill came down," a villager said.
Police said many of the dead were related to Thomas. Some cattle in the four houses were also killed, they said.
"Thomas has miraculously survived but the groom was killed along with the others in his house," a police officer said.
One of the survivors, Thresiammma, said she escaped because she ran out of Thomas' house after hearing a loud noise.
"We first thought it was thunder. I ran out of the house and was saved," she told Reuters.
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