Wayanad landslides: Death toll crosses 270, over 200 still missing; Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka leave for Wayanad

Wayanad landslides: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra left Delhi for Kerala's Wayanad on Thursday morning after massive landslides wreaked havoc in the region. 

The death toll in Wayanad landslides has risen to 277, with more than 200 people still missing. Army has rescued around 1,000 individuals, with 220 still missing as rescue operations approach their third day.

Former Wayanad MP Rahul and his sister Priyanka who will be running in the upcoming by-elections will meet with families impacted by the recent landslides. Wayanad saw three landslides on Tuesday as a result of heavy rainfall. The villages of Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Noolpuzha in the district were the most severely damaged by the landslides.

Meanwhile, a 190-foot-long Bailey bridge is being built to connect the worst-hit areas of Mundakkai and Chooralmala and to increase rescue efforts.

Wayanad landslides update IN POINTS

Union Home Minister Amit Shah claimed that the Kerala government did not respond quickly to the central government's warning of probable landslides.

Kerala Chief Minister Vijayan dismissed Amit Shah's claim, noting that the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued just an orange signal and that rainfall exceeded predictions.

Rescue efforts have saved 1,386 individuals, including 528 men, 559 women, and 299 children, who were moved to seven camps following landslides. 201 people were hospitalised, with 90 still receiving treatment.

Rescue efforts are ongoing, with the army, navy, and coast guard searching at Attamala, Mundakkai, and Churalmala.

Authorities are using sniffer dogs and a sophisticated buried object detection system to find people buried under the ground.