Kerala Landslides: Odisha Doctor’s Body Found; Search Continues for Missing Colleague

The body of Dr. Krushnaprasad Chinnara, an Odisha-based doctor who went missing in the recent landslides in Wayanad, has been recovered, Odisha Minister Suresh Pujari confirmed on Wednesday. Dr. Chinnara had traveled to Wayanad with his wife Priyadarshini Pal and two other doctors, arriving on July 29 after a trip to Bengaluru.

While Priyadarshini Pal and Swikruti Mohapatra, another doctor in their group, have been rescued and are currently receiving treatment in a hospital, the third doctor, Swadheen Panda, remains missing.

Minister Pujari informed that, “Two families from Choudwar in Cuttack district, who were tourists, were caught in the landslide. The two women have been found and are hospitalized, while the two men are still missing. All four are doctors.”

He added that discussions are ongoing with the Kerala government about sending officials to assist in the search operations for the missing individuals. The Odisha government has deployed a team led by Director Mo Parivar Dilip Routray to Kerala for coordination.

In response to the disaster, the Indian Army has intensified its rescue efforts, successfully evacuating over 1,000 people from the affected regions. The Army’s Southern Command reported that up to 1,000 personnel were rescued using makeshift bridges and human effort, despite challenging weather conditions and limited visibility. The Indian Air Force has also been involved, conducting search and rescue operations with helicopters to evacuate people stranded in narrow areas.

The landslides, triggered by heavy rains, struck the Wayanad areas of Mepaddi and Chooramala, resulting in significant flooding and damage. At least 158 people have died as a result of the disaster. The initial landslide occurred at 2 am on July 30, followed by another at 4:01 am, causing extensive damage to homes, roads, and infrastructure. Areas including Meppadi, Mundakkai, and Chooramala have been cut off, with roads washed away and the Vellarmala GVH School completely buried. Rescue and relief operations are ongoing.